Get ready for Euro van tachograph deadline, advises Logistics UK

From 1 July 2026, operators of light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of more than 2.5 tonnes that undertake international journeys for hire and reward must have smart tachograph 2 (ST2) devices fitted. With the deadline just over two months away, business group Logistics UK is reminding operators to ensure they are compliant with the new requirements.

Since 19 August 2025, UK heavy goods vehicles (HGV) exceeding 3.5t on international journeys have had to use second-generation smart tachographs and from 1 July 2026, light commercial vehicles (LCV) over 2.5t will need to follow the same requirements. According to Logistics UK, the newer ST2 technology is designed to meet the increased demand for accuracy and reporting under EU Regulations and also has improved fraud protection to prevent tampering.

Martin Candish, Head of Compliance Information at Logistics UK said: “To ensure compliance, all operators that conduct international journeys should carry out a review of journeys, vehicles and drivers to check and see if they fall under the regulations. This also includes operators in Northern Ireland with vehicles over 2.5t entering the Republic of Ireland, as they will also need to have a ST2 installed.

“It is important to check operations now, and delaying any further could mean long waiting times to get devices fitted and risk not being compliant with the potential for fines and disruption.”

Logistics UK also stresses the need for drivers to be trained properly on using the tachographs, “Roadside inspections can be stressful for drivers especially where technical irregularities are found,” continues Candish. “Fortunately, irregularities and technical errors with the system are not considered to be the fault of the driver, but they can increase disruption and distress. This is why it is essential that drivers receive appropriate training on how to operate the tachograph, understand the current legislation and know what to do if there are technical problems such as security breach error codes. This will mean that drivers can produce all the necessary records correctly at the time of inspection, so it goes as smoothly as possible, and they can return to their journey with minimal inconvenience.”

Logistics UK supports its members in reaching the highest standards of compliance by offering comprehensive compliance information and advice through its Member Advice Centre (MAC), the Yearbook of Road Transport Law, briefing documents and its Transport Manager events, which are held every autumn. Its compliance platform, Vision, helps manage compliance and operations through a single, easy-to-use portal and provides a one stop shop for all aspects of compliance including tachograph analysis, licence checks, vehicle inspections, walkaround checks, PCN analysis, audits, training and risk assessment.

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk