The deadline for the mandatory installation of second-generation smart tachographs on all heavy vehicles used for cross-border freight transport is set for December 31, 2024. Failure to comply could result in severe consequences: in Germany, the absence of this device is classified as a very serious violation, while in France, penalties can include up to one year in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros. The Romanian trucking industry appears to be lagging behind on this deadline.
According to the Romanian association Untrr, out of approximately 60,000 Romanian vehicles primarily used for cross-border transport, only 10,000 are already equipped with the new tachograph, while another 17,000 have the first-generation smart tachograph. However, it is likely that a significant portion of the fleet will not be able to meet the deadline, potentially barring them from crossing EU borders starting January 1, 2025.
In this context, Untrr has called on Romanian and European authorities to extend the deadline for retrofitting international transport vehicles with the new tachographs by two years. According to Regulation 1054/2020 of the First Mobility Package, all vehicles equipped with analog or non-smart digital tachographs must be upgraded by the end of 2024, while those with first-generation smart tachographs have until August 18, 2025.
Untrr emphasized that extending the deadline would allow retrofitting to be done during the periodic technical inspections of the tachographs, thus reducing costs: "If the deadline is not extended, Romanian carriers risk losing access to the EU market," said Radu Dinescu, Secretary General of the Romanian association.
According to surveys conducted by Untrr and Iru, the trucking industry in Romania and other EU member states is facing significant delays and challenges in meeting the deadlines imposed by the First Mobility Package. A September 2024 Iru study found that only 6.42% of carriers' fleets have already installed the second-generation smart tachograph.
To avoid the risk of exclusion from the EU market, Untrr has also requested the allocation of European funds to cover retrofitting costs. Currently, only Spain has launched a support program for transport companies, while countries like Romania and Poland are still waiting for funds to assist with the mandatory adoption of the new device.
The regulation imposed by the First Mobility Package is the first in history to mandate the retrofitting of all vehicles already in use for cross-border transport, rather than limiting the requirement to newly registered vehicles. This measure aims to facilitate the enforcement of the First Mobility Package rules.
"We are facing an unprecedented situation in the EU, where a regulation requires the mandatory retrofitting of all vehicles used for cross-border transport!" added the Secretary of Untrr. "We must make it clear that we, Eastern transporters, conduct transport within the EU, while in the developed countries of Western Europe, operators primarily work at the national level."
For Romanian carriers, the obligation to equip all vehicles with second-generation smart tachographs within the next three months represents a major challenge. In Romania, the only two private EU-approved tachograph manufacturers have a single representative, which limits competition. Untrr has urged Romanian authorities to act as impartial arbiters, facilitating carriers' compliance with this obligation. The issue will also be discussed at the Iru level, with a decision that could lead to further requests to the European Commission.
