Lorry drivers and operators are being reminded by the European Union (EU) that new rules come into force for international journeys regarding driving history and digital tachographs, writes Peter Brown.
From Tuesday 31 December 2024, lorry drivers will be required to have 56 days of driving records on board and truck operators carrying out international journeys with analogue or original digital tachographs have until 31 December to upgrade to Generation Two Smart Tachographs.
Firms that have Generation One Smart Tachographs in their trucks have until 18 August 2025 to fit necessary upgrades to Generation Two.
The Generation One Smart Tachograph became mandatory for newly registered vehicles since 19 June 2019, while Generation Two Smart Tachograph was made mandatory for all new registered vehicles since 21 August 2023.
There is no grace period, warned the EU, although the International Road Transport Union has asked for authorities to extend the deadline for retrofitting trucks with the new equipment.
They argue too many trucks will have the ‘generation one’ systems fitted in older trucks between one and five years old, while many others will have original digital tachographs fitted in trucks registered before 19 June 2019.
For now, it doesn’t affect UK-based lorry drivers working within England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, however DVSA said a consultation by the Department for Transport in 2025 will focus on whether the new rules should apply here.
From New Year’s Eve, lorry drivers will need have 56 days’ worth of driving data, which goes back to 6 November 2024.
