New EU Rules for Tachograph Records: What Drivers and Operators Need to Knows

The Directorate-General for Mobility (DG Move) of the European Commission has announced a significant change to tachograph record-keeping requirements for industrial vehicle drivers. Starting from 1 January 2025, drivers must present records of their activities for the previous 56 days, doubling the current 28-day requirement. This update, part of the EU Mobility Package, aligns with the revised Article 36 of Regulation (EU) 165/2014 and represents a step towards greater transparency and safety in the road transport sector.

Key Changes to the Tachograph Rules

Driver Cards:

Cards issued after July 2023 are equipped with enhanced memory to store 56 days of activity.
Older-generation cards still in use require drivers to provide supplementary paper printouts for the previous 28 days to meet the new standard.

Transition Period:

During the transition to new-generation cards, drivers using older cards must ensure printouts covering the required 56 days are available on board their vehicles.
By 1 January 2025, all drivers must comply fully, either with updated cards or supplementary records.

Aims of the Regulation

DG Move emphasized that the updated tachograph regulation is designed to:

Improve safety: By ensuring more accurate and complete records of driver activity.
Promote fair competition: Uniform record-keeping standards reduce the risk of non-compliance and provide an even playing field for operators across Europe.
Standardize roadside checks: The 56-day requirement creates consistency in enforcement across all EU Member States . A spokesperson from DG Move explained:

"This measure is a critical step towards greater uniformity and transparency in the road transport sector, ensuring that safety and fairness remain at the forefront of EU transport policy."

What Drivers and Operators Need to Do

The implementation of these new requirements means both drivers and operators must take proactive steps to ensure compliance:

Drivers:

Verify whether their driver cards are updated to meet the new standard.
If using an older card, maintain paper printouts for any days not covered by the card.
Replace older cards with a new-generation card as soon as possible.

Operators:

Ensure that drivers are aware of the new rules and equipped with the necessary tools to comply.
Update fleet management systems to handle the extended data requirements.

A Broader Vision for Road Safety and Fair Competition

This update is part of a larger project within the EU to improve the road transport sector. By standardizing controls and requiring more detailed records, the regulation aims to:

Enhance road safety for all users.
Reduce unfair practices in cross-border transport operations.
Simplify enforcement procedures for roadside checks.

As part of the EU Mobility Package, this initiative reflects the European Commission’s commitment to modernizing transport policies in line with safety, fairness, and efficiency goals.

A Question for the Industry

With these changes, the EU is raising the bar for transparency and compliance in road transport. However, challenges remain in ensuring smooth adoption, especially during the transition period.

What do you think—will these new rules bring the intended benefits, or will the additional requirements place too much burden on drivers and operators?