European Regulatory Change Effective July 1, 2026

Please note that a new European regulation will take effect on July 1, 2026.
 Effective immediately, only vehicles equipped with a tachograph and a European transport license (see previous truck regulations) will be permitted to operate across borders if their gross vehicle weight exceeds 2.5 metric tons.
 This will have a significant impact on pricing and availability.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Unfortunately, previous price agreements will no longer be valid as of July 1, 2026.

The new tachograph requirement effective July 1, 2026, applies to cross-border transport involving vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 2.5 metric tons, including trailers. The legal basis is Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 165/2014 in conjunction with Article 2(1)(aa) of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006.

In Germany, the Driver Personnel Regulation (FPersV) continues to apply to domestic transport for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 2.8 metric tons to 3.5 metric tons. This regulation governs the recording requirement but does not explicitly stipulate that this must be done using a digital tachograph. Driving and rest periods can be documented using daily control sheets.

These vehicles are not automatically required to be equipped with a digital tachograph. 

But what if, for example, a vehicle is equipped with a digital tachograph because it occasionally performs international transport, but the vehicle is primarily used for domestic transport? Can the daily control sheets be used for domestic transport?

This question is not entirely trivial, because there are currently many publications circulating regarding the new tachograph requirement for vehicles between 2.5 metric tons and 3.5 metric tons in cross-border transport, and these often fail to clearly distinguish between

    - EU social regulations (Regulation 561/2006) and

    - the German Driving Personnel Ordinance (FPersV)

For purely domestic transport, the German Driving Personnel Ordinance continues to apply. This ordinance regulates the obligation to record working, driving, and rest periods.

This is precisely where the controversy arises:

- Some expert authors infer from the FPersV that daily control sheets are sufficient.
- Some Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) take the view that an existing tachograph must also be used. However, there is no known legal basis for this.
- There is no explicit regulation or legal provision stating: “If a digital tachograph is installed, daily control sheets are not permitted.”

A written inquiry to the BALM (Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility) also failed to provide clarity, as we received only an explanation regarding the topic of “recording and monitoring drivers’ activities and rest periods when they are not driving.”

While this is not a legal provision, it is the interpretation of the regulatory authorities, and for us, it means that if a digital tachograph is installed, it must be used. This applies to all commercial freight transport—whether domestic or cross-border. If a vehicle is used exclusively for domestic transport, a digital tachograph does not need to be installed.

If you have any questions on this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us.