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Why the Tachograph 2.0 matters

Since August 2023, the EU has been rolling out the new Smart Tachograph 2.0 as part of the Mobility Package 1. Its goal? To balance three priorities: protecting drivers’ rights, ensuring fair competition in the single market, and boosting road safety.

The device goes far beyond just recording driving hours. It automatically registers border crossings, loading and unloading operations, updates its software remotely, and has stronger protections against tampering. It can even connect to remote control systems, allowing authorities to check trucks without stopping them.

In theory, this should make enforcement smoother and more equal across the EU. But will it really fix the gaps between countries with strong control systems and those with weaker ones?

A timeline of change – step by step

  • Since August 2023, all newly registered trucks must be equipped with the new tachographs.
  • Older trucks with analog or early digital devices must upgrade by the end of 2024, while those with first-generation smart tachographs have until August 2025.
  • From July 2026, even light commercial vehicles over 2.5 tonnes used for international transport will need to have one.

On paper, the timeline aligns with the regular inspection cycle, which should ease the burden. But in practice, operators face high costs – not just buying the device but also installing it. For many small and medium-sized companies, that’s a serious challenge.

Big EU ambitions vs. market realities

From the EU’s perspective, the plan is simple: one standard device, one way of recording data, fairer enforcement everywhere. Ideally, this should put an end to companies exploiting loopholes in rules on working hours or cross-border operations.

But reality looks different. Countries like Germany or France already have strong inspection systems and will use the new tech intensively. Others with weaker administrations may apply the rules far less. Instead of harmonisation, Europe could end up with the same law being enforced unevenly.

And then there’s the cost. Upgrading fleets across the EU is expected to cost hundreds of millions of euros. Without EU support, many smaller companies may struggle to survive, raising the risk of the industry becoming even more dominated by big players.

Drivers – protected or just more closely watched?

Officially, Tachograph 2.0 is there to protect drivers – making sure they aren’t overworked or exploited. By automatically recording borders and loading sites, it should make cheating with working hours harder.

But many drivers worry that instead of empowerment, they’re facing constant surveillance. Every part of their workday will be visible to authorities. Add to that the possibility of data being stored and analysed across different EU countries, and you get real concerns about privacy.

Remote checks – fair play or selective enforcement?

The tachograph’s biggest innovation is remote control. Authorities can now read key data from moving vehicles without stopping them. This should make inspections faster and less disruptive.

But there’s a flip side. Remote checks could be applied selectively – targeting companies from certain countries or market segments. If the algorithms behind these checks aren’t transparent, some hauliers could face more scrutiny than others, undermining the principle of fair competition.

2026 and beyond – the endgame or just the beginning?

By 2026, light commercial vehicles in international transport will also be under the tachograph regime. This reflects today’s market reality – vans often compete directly with trucks. But for small operators, the new obligation could act as a barrier to entry, pushing them out of the market.

And let’s not forget: technology isn’t perfect. Every new generation of tachographs has eventually been bypassed by creative “hacks.” Tachograph 2.0 is more resistant, but probably not the final solution. The future may lie in fully digital systems, integrated with vehicle telematics and EU-wide data platforms.

The big question

Is Tachograph 2.0 the tool Europe needs to make transport safer and fairer, or just a new layer of cost and control? The answer may depend not only on technology, but also on how consistently – and fairly – it’s enforced across the Union.

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