Automotive Business Magazine – Q3 2026 – Digital edition - Flipbook - Page 75
OPINION
FL E E T
Get ahead as EU
rules expand
→ Ryan Yu is VP of product, EMEA at Samsara
I
f you operate a fleet of LCVs your
fleet has been exempt from the
tachograph requirements that
most commercial vehicles in the
EU operate under. That’s about
to change. Starting 1st July 2026,
drivers of vans between 2.5 and
3.5 tonnes used for certain types of
transport may fall under EU Mobility
Package 1. In practice, this means
tachographs, driving hours rules, and the
compliance obligations that heavy-duty
fleets contend with are now coming for
light commercial vehicles.
If your fleet operates in Europe,
missing the deadline exposes your
business to heavy fines and a risk to
your O-licence.
Vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes
used for certain types of international
road transport across EU and UK
borders are expected to have a Smart
Tachograph 2 unit, subject to applicable
exemptions and local rules. Once
installed, the compliance work starts.
Tachograph data must be downloaded
regularly, reviewed for infringements, and
stored for audits.
When a driver breaks the rules,
operators must demonstrate that they
responded with coaching and recordkeeping. Slip up on these requirements,
and penalties range from DVSA
improvement notices to prohibition
orders, and, in serious cases, a review of
an Operator’s Licence.
Practical guide for preparedness
Most LCV operators have never had to
think like regulated transport businesses,
and that’s by design. Fortunately, HGV
operators have been navigating this red
tape for years, cultivating an ecosystem
of tachograph technology along the way.
Step One: In mixed fleets, not every
van will fall under the mandate.
Consider auditing your fleet to identify
which vehicles exceed the 2.5-tonne
threshold and cross international
borders. Retrofitting requires
significant capital, so start there
before spending.
Step Two: Move quickly on installation.
Tachograph units require qualified
engineers to install them, and
workshop capacity will start to fill up.
Step Three: Find the right tech partner
to help you automate tachograph and
infringement handling. Many of the
rote tasks of downloading, reviewing,
and acting on infringements can be
supported by an AI-powered platform.
The technology advantage
Connected systems can help reduce the
risk of violations before vehicles leave the
yard with proactive alerts and automatic
tracking of driver qualifications.
Additionally, integrated navigation
solutions offer the ability to keep drivers
on compliant routes, avoiding costly
fines. Preventing infringements is one
piece. Another advantage is the alerts
in the moment, with integrated drivers’
hours rules tracking, proactive hazard
warnings, and real-time reminders.
Even after an infringement happens,
tech can help with coaching, automated
training, and positive reinforcement.
The road ahead
Samsara is working directly with fleet
operators across Europe to make this
transition as straightforward as possible,
from identifying which vehicles are in
scope to preventing infringements.
For most fleets that don’t have
the luxury of adding staff to absorb
compliance work, technology can provide
a clear route.
Technology expands visibility and
automation into operations, which
can pay dividends across safety and
efficiency, making this mandate a boost
to bottom lines.
Q3 2026
AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
75
