EU Mobility Package rules will apply to light commercial vehicles from 1 July 2026.
From 1 July 2026, vans weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes engaged in cross-border transport will be brought under key EU Mobility Package rules.
What’s new?
The framework introduces three main obligations for operators:
- Mandatory installation and use of tachographs
- Application of EU driving and rest time rules
- Application of rules on the posting of drivers in relevant operations
For many operators, this marks a fundamental shift, as these EU requirements did not previously apply to their activities.
Cross-border operations, including cabotage and cross-trade, may trigger the application of rules on posted drivers. This requires additional administrative steps, including registration on the EU road transport posting declaration portal and compliance checks.
Who’s affected?
The rules apply to operators carrying out cross-border transport operations, including cabotage and cross-trade.
Even occasional cross-border activity brings operations within scope.
What’s the impact?
These changes will directly affect how transport operations are organised. Operators will need to adapt routes, schedules and driver management to comply with driving and rest time requirements. They must also integrate new administrative processes linked to posting rules.
Driver preparedness is another concern. While driving and rest time rules will apply from July 2026, many drivers are not yet trained to apply them in daily operations. Drivers need training on how to plan and respect driving time limits, taking mandatory breaks and rest periods, recording and managing activities correctly, and using the tachograph as part of their daily work.
The IRU Academy is providing training programmes on tachograph use and driving and rest time rules to help drivers and operators apply these requirements in practice.
Are we ready?
IRU survey data indicates that preparation is not yet at the required level.
Only 27.7% of operators report being ready for the deadline, while 46.5% indicate they are not yet prepared. Tachograph installation remains a key bottleneck, with 88% of the fleet still requiring retrofitting.
The main challenges identified are operational and financial. Respondents point to limited workshop capacity, high installation costs and technical compatibility constraints, rather than a lack of awareness of the rules.
What has IRU done?
IRU has already taken concrete steps to support operators in preparing for the new EU rules for light commercial vehicles. These include organising an EU information webinar on LCV international transport rules, as well as targeted workshops and training sessions on the July 2026 requirements, including train-the-trainers format.
The sessions focused on translating the new rules into operational practice, helping operators understand how the requirements apply to their activities and what needs to be put in place ahead of the deadline.
With the deadline now approaching, the sector is entering the final stretch. Preparation efforts need to accelerate.
What should I do?
Operators need to accelerate preparation by planning the installation of G2V2 smart tachographs across their fleets and ensuring vehicles used in cross-border operations are equipped on time.
Driver training should be prioritised to ensure that driving and rest time rules are correctly applied in daily operations.
At the same time, operators should review routes and schedules to reflect these requirements and assess when posting rules apply to their activities, ensuring that the necessary administrative processes are in place.
For a comprehensive overview of the new requirements, operators can consult guidance from the European Labour Authority. It covers tachographs, driving and rest time rules, and posting obligations.