The European Commission introduces a transitional period for the replacement of tachographs

The European Commission unexpectedly decided to introduce a temporary transitional period for transport companies that have not yet updated their tachographs to the latest version G2V2. Until the end of February 2025, inspections carried out in European Union countries are to be conducted in a more educational manner, with the abandonment of financial penalties. Although this is good news for many carriers, an expert from Inelo warns that this document does not provide complete protection against potential fines. It is also worth remembering that the August deadline for the next tachograph replacement does not provide for similar facilitations.

Temporary rules for replacing tachographs – convenience or risk?

The provisions of EU Regulation No. 165/2014 indicate that the first deadline for the mandatory exchange of tachographs for transport vehicles has already passed. By the end of December 2024, carriers operating international transportrodowere required to replace old analogue and first-generation digital tachographs with modern devices. From January 2025, regulations require that in international transportrodoonly vehicles equipped with G2V1 or G2V2 smart tachographs were used. On 18 December 2024, during the meeting of the Road Transport Committee, all EU Member States agreed to introduce transitional rules for replacing devices. Until the end of February 2025, companies that have not managed to replace tachographs will not be penalized, but only warned. - This was necessary because, according to Inelo research, almost 30% of vehicles in international transportrodostill uses tachographs that do not comply with the new requirements. From the industry perspective, this is a positive decision that will allow companies to adapt to the regulations, says Mateusz Włoch, development expert at Inelo, part of the Eurowag Group.

Education instead of punishment – ​​what does it mean in practice?

Although the European Commission's recommendation is educational in nature, it should be remembered that some Member States may still impose penalties during inspections. The EC's decision is not equivalent to new law, and local authorities may interpret the regulations differently. - Despite the agreement, there is a risk that some inspection services will decide to impose sanctions. However, so far none of our customers have reported problems due to the lack of replacement of tachographs. Nevertheless, we appeal for action to be taken as soon as possible to avoid potential costs and long waiting times for replacement - comments Mateusz Włoch. So far, countries such as Poland, Romania, Italy, France and Spain have declared that they will comply with the Commission's recommendation and postpone the application of penalties for failure to replace tachographs until the end of February 2025.

Second term in August 2025 – no special rates

The next important date for the transport industry is August 19, 2025. From that day on, all vehicles serving international transportrodoin the EU must be equipped with G2V2 tachographs. Failure to comply with the regulations may result in serious consequences, including the loss of the ability to provide international servicesrodowych. – This provision applies to vehicles registered before August 21, 2023, which must undergo modernization. In this case, the EC has not provided for any derogations. Carriers who neglect this obligation must count on high fines and possible suspension of operations – warns the expert from Inelo.

How to effectively plan the replacement of tachographs?

The key to avoiding problems is proper planning. Companies can use tools such as 4Trans software from Inelo, which allows for precise fleet management and compliance with legal requirements. - Reporting functionalities in 4Trans help quickly identify vehicles requiring replacement of devices. This not only saves time, but also allows you to avoid penalties and unplanned downtime. The challenges facing the transport industry require precision and appropriate management tools - sums up Mateusz Włoch.