New tachograph regulations – groupage could be a solution

groupage transport is not affected by the legislative changes, as trucks have been operating in compliance with these regulations for a long time, so they can represent a stable, reliable, predictable alternative to versus van transport.

The new regulation

From July 1, 2026, according to the European Union Mobility Package, the use of the second generation tachograph (G2V2) and compliance with rest periods in international transport will also be mandatory for light commercial vehicles with a total weight of more than 2.5 tons, i.e. vans. Drivers will therefore be able to drive a maximum of 9 hours per day and a maximum of 56 hours per week, with 45-minute breaks every 4.5 hours, and must take at least 9 consecutive hours of rest every day.

In parallel, administrative burdens are increasing. Entrepreneurs using light commercial vehicles will be subject to the same rules that previously applied to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 7.5 tonnes and above – including 40-tonne combinations, for example:

• Tachograph data must be downloaded and stored at appropriate intervals.
• The company must apply for an operator card, which locks and manages the tachograph data.
• Drivers must manually record activities at the beginning and end of each working day.
• Business documentation (waybills, employment contracts, etc.) will be required to be stored at the company’s headquarters, where the transport authority can inspect them at any time.
• The company must prove annually that it has sufficient capital – 1,800 euros for the first vehicle, 900 euros for each additional vehicle.
• Route planning that takes into account time constraints, scheduling working hours according to the new system, and realistically estimating the volume of shipments to be handled can be a challenge even for highly experienced transport companies.

The solution: groupage

“Van transport was chosen over groupage primarily by those customers who were looking for a fast and flexible solution and were willing to pay a significantly higher price, up to 40-50 percent, for a delivery time of up to 1-2 days shorter, even over longer distances within Europe.”

– says Ákos Brandhuber.

“We see that the Mobility Package could even result in a price explosion in the van market, while the time advantage either disappears or its retention makes the service even more expensive.”

According to the expert, the solution to the situation is groupage transport provided by network logistics service providers. This area is not affected by the change in legislation. The trucks used here have been operating according to these regulations for quite some time. The groupage market therefore represents a stable logistical background for its customers in the future as well.

“The DACHSER European Logistics’ road groupage service operates with fixed schedules and clockwork precision, with flights departing at the same time every day to the destination. DACHSER services are present in all European countries, with more than 200 locations ensuring the reliable and predictable operation of the network”

– says Ákos Brandhuber.

“In groupage transport, the freight cost is divided between the goods of several clients, which results in a much more favorable cost level at the customer level than that of smaller vans that operate on a case-by-case basis and often transport only one client’s goods. Moreover, the use of larger vehicles also significantly reduces the environmental impact per pallet. DACHSER’s entire network uses a uniform, self-developed IT system that provides real-time tracking, which allows not only the transport vehicle but also the position and status of the given shipment to be tracked.”