Experts recommend that fleet owners actively start implementing new tachographs

Those planning to book an appointment with a commercial vehicle repair specialist in early November should expect long queue delays due to the need to upgrade their tachograph to Smart Tacho 2. On the cusp of 2024-2025, many fleet owners will face an important deadline: all trucks over 3.5 tonnes equipped with version one analogue or digital tachographs and used in international transport must be converted to the new version two smart tachograph by 31 December 2024.

Many fleet owners are still putting off this necessary upgrade for a variety of reasons. Some are confused by national exemptions and transitional provisions, which creates uncertainty about the applicable deadlines and requirements in different countries. At the same time, some markets are even hoping for a possible cancellation of this EU innovation. In addition, there are rumours of a shortage of devices in stock, although manufacturers claim otherwise. The EU Commission therefore recommends that fleet owners ensure that their lorries are retrofitted early on.

If an inspection reveals that a lorry is carrying out international transport with an outdated tachograph, the fine will be the same as if the tachograph had not been present at all. For example, in Germany the fine is 1.5 thousand euros and in the Netherlands it is up to 4.4 thousand euros. It should be taken into account that the fine will be imposed on each checked truck at each inspection. By August this year, all EU countries will also be obliged to introduce a system of remote control of trucks. This will only be possible using the DSRC-RP module in the tachograph and remote scanning technology. This means that control authorities will be able to identify lorries with non-compliant tachographs while they are on the move.