From paper disc to smart tachograph
The tachograph records driving, break and rest times. With the Mobility Package (Regulation (EU) 2020/1054), Europe accelerated the move to the second-generation "smart" tachograph (V2), which transmits position data and eases roadside checks.
The 19 August 2025 deadline
The timetable provides for a phased upgrade. Vehicles in international transport fitted with an old analogue or digital tachograph had to be re-equipped with the smart tachograph; for the first generation of "smart tacho", the upgrade was required by 19 August 2025 at the latest. In addition, new vehicles registered since August 2023 carry version V2 from the outset.
Why it concerns dispatch
A non-compliant tachograph exposes you to penalties at checks and can immobilise a vehicle. Beyond the obligation, tachograph data is a goldmine for planning: it objectifies real driving and service times and lets you build routes that respect Regulation 561/2006 rather than breaching it through ignorance.
Anticipate rather than react
Best practice: map your fleet (tachograph type per vehicle), schedule re-equipping, and link this data to your dispatch tool. Planning that "sees" hours already driven avoids scheduling the violation.
- Framework: Mobility Package, Regulation (EU) 2020/1054
- "Smart tacho v1" upgrade required by 19 August 2025 (international transport)
- New vehicles since August 2023: V2 tachograph from the start
- Tachograph data feeds compliant planning
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Sources
This article is based on verifiable public sources: