New regulations on tachographs in the EU

New regulations on tachographs in the EU

Since June 2019, all heavy vehicles have been required to be fitted with a first-generation smart tachograph according to European legislation. Today, the European Union is taking a new step in road safety and compliance: the installation of a second-generation smart tachograph becomes mandatory starting in August 2023.

Why these new regulations?

The tachograph plays an essential role in the safety of professional drivers. This device records driving hours, rest periods, and other activities to prevent fatigue at the wheel and ensure safer driving.

Fatigue remains one of the main factors in road accidents in the European Union - it is implicated in 10 to 25% of accidents. The European Road Safety Observatory highlights that “it contributes to 15 to 20% of serious accidents, particularly affecting HGV drivers, night workers, and taxi drivers".

To enhance safety and ensure compliance, the new regulation therefore mandates the second-generation smart tachograph for all goods transport vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and for passenger transport vehicles with more than nine seats.

The smart tachograph: a key tool for safety and compliance

Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 governs the use of the tachograph and lays the foundation for this legislation. Since 2019, new vehicles have already been equipped with smart digital tachographs.

These devices automatically record driver and co-driver data, ensuring their accuracy through encryption and fraud prevention technologies.

Each driver has a personal card to insert into the device before hitting the road. This card stores data for at least 28 days, allowing quick access in case of inspection.

Smart tachographs also integrate advanced communication tools, such as GNSS positioning and real-time transmission of information to competent authorities.

Second generation: even smarter and more secure

Following the revision of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, a new version of the smart tachograph (V2) comes into force in 2023.

This update is not limited to recording driver activities; it introduces functionalities designed to better enforce European legislation, particularly concerning cabotage and the posting of drivers.

Among the new features:

• Automatic recording of border crossings.
• Precise location of the vehicle during loading and unloading.
• Enhanced satellite signal authentication.
• Internal motion sensor to prevent tampering.

These improvements make the technology more reliable, safer, and more difficult to manipulate.

Key implementation dates

• August 2023: all new vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must be equipped with Version 2.
• December 2024: vehicles used for international transport must adopt Version 2, even if they currently use an analogue or standard digital tachograph.
• August 2025: vehicles already equipped with a first-generation smart tachograph must migrate to the new version.
• July 2026: all new vehicles over 2.5 tonnes operating internationally or performing cabotage must mandatorily include Version 2.

Tachograph and fleet management: a winning combination

For fleet managers, these changes represent an opportunity to improve safety, compliance, and productivity simultaneously.

Integrating a digital tachograph with a fleet management solution allows for:

• Accessing tachograph data in near real-time.
• Obtaining a clear overview of driving and rest activities.
• Ensuring automated and compliant monitoring without interrupting drivers’ work.
• Facilitating the control and analysis of data for planning and performance.

This smart combination helps companies anticipate risks, optimise schedules, and maintain a high level of compliance while reducing administrative tasks.

Shift into high gear with Geotab

The Geotab platform helps you unlock the full potential of your fleet with an open and connected solution, capable of integrating your tachograph data, vehicles, and drivers into a single interface.

Discover how Geotab simplifies compliance and improves the safety of your operations.