Tachographs for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Will this change the rules of express transport? (Part 1)

There is a topic coming up more and more frequently in the logistics world that will fundamentally reshape the transportation sector. Starting July 1, 2026, a new regulation will take effect requiring smart tachographs for all vehicles in international transport between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes. (Find the official law here)

At SWIDA Innovative, we take a pragmatic view of this change. It is not just a technical modification to vehicles; it is a shift in the entire economic model of van operations as we have known them. In the first part of our blog series, we summarize what this regulation entails and why it may lead to higher prices and longer transit times.

Why is the price per kilometer set to rise?

Installing a smart tachograph does not change a carrier’s fixed costs. Leasing payments, insurance, service, and driver wage expectations remain the same. What changes dramatically, however, is vehicle efficiency.

Until now, a van in express mode has been able to cover approximately 180,000 km per year. With the introduction of mandatory breaks and rest periods for drivers (the same regime as trucks), this mileage will drop to approximately 120,000 km according to our calculations. Ultimately, this means a 33% drop in performance.

The consequence is purely economic:

• Fixed costs must be spread over a significantly smaller number of kilometers.
• We estimate that this factor alone will directly increase the cost price by €0.10 to €0.12 per kilometer.
• The total increase in transport prices ranges between 20% and 25%.

The end of flexibility?

The advantage of vans has always been their speed and flexibility. A driver could deliver goods across half of Europe in record time because strict regulations on driving and resting times did not limit them. From July 2026, van drivers will have to follow the same rules as truck drivers.

• Longer transit times: A route that a driver can currently manage in 16 hours may take up to 30 hours under the new rules due to mandatory breaks.
• Loss of agility: Planning will become less flexible. Unexpected delays or additional pick-ups will be impossible to execute without violating regulations.

Important note regarding speed: We frequently encounter the question of whether vans will be equipped with speed limiters. The answer is no. Technically, the vehicle will not be limited, but the tachograph records speed retrospectively for 28 days. Authorities will therefore have a detailed overview of every speeding incident, which in practice will force drivers to adhere to the same strict standards as truck drivers.

How are carriers preparing?

To gain a realistic picture of the situation, we contacted 61 transport companies as part of our internal survey. The results show that the market does not yet have a unified strategy:

• 42% of carriers are waiting and taking no steps for now.
• 31% plan to switch to larger vehicles (over 3.5t), as the regulation will be the same, but they can carry more cargo.
• 15% are considering buying small pickups (under 2.5t), which are not yet subject to the regulation.
• Only a minimal portion (approx. 5%) plans to use two drivers in vans, as this solution is financially very demanding.

Some carriers also openly admit that these changes could be fatal for their businesses. This may result in a temporary capacity shortage on the market in the first months following the regulation’s implementation.

We have a solution ready

The changes described may sound complicated, but it’s a reality we all must prepare for. At SWIDA Innovative, we are not just monitoring the situation; we are actively working on ways to eliminate these negative impacts.

You will soon learn about what exactly our solution looks like and how we can help with this change without unnecessary stress!  STAY TUNED! 🙂