The new law on smart tachographs 2 - Obligations until the End of 2024

The new law on smart tachographs 2 introduces key changes in road transport, especially for carriers and drivers across Europe, with the goal of improving traffic safety, greater transparency in driver working hours monitoring, and more efficient vehicle control. According to Regulation (EU) 2020/1054, smart tachographs 2 will be mandatory from July 2026 for all commercial vehicles in international transport weighing over 2.5 tons, and all old tachographs must be replaced in accordance with the established deadlines. This investment represents a step forward towards modernization and greater road safety.

Carrier Obligations Under the New Law on Smart Tachographs 2

Under the new law on tachographs, carriers are obligated to replace existing tachographs within the following deadlines:

• From 21 August 2023, all newly registered trucks and commercial vehicles in categories N2 (over 3.5t) and N3 (over 16t), as well as buses in categories M2 and M3, must be equipped with smart tachographs 2.
• All vehicles in international transport still using analog or digital tachographs must replace them with smart tachographs 2 by December 31, 2024 at the latest.
• Vehicles with smart tachographs of the first generation in international traffic must replace their tachographs by August 20, 2025.
• Goods vehicles in category N1 (2.5 - 3.5 tons) in international road transport must install smart tachographs 2 by June 1, 2026.

In addition, carriers must regularly download data from driver cards at least once every 28 days and data from tachographs every 90 days.

How to Comply with the New Law?

To comply with the new law on tachographs in Serbia, all driver activities must align with the regulations. Failure to replace tachographs within the prescribed deadlines, as well as failure to download data from tachographs and driver cards, can result in high fines, further damaging the carrier's budget.

The NTS Taho solution for remote data reading allows for easy compliance with all legal deadlines for downloading data from tachographs. By using the NTS Taho solution, the process of reading and downloading data from tachographs becomes fully automated. The device connects to the digital tachograph and remotely transmits data from the tachograph memory and driver cards, which are displayed through the NTS application. This system enables fast and secure data transfer regardless of the vehicle's current location, without interrupting transport activities.

The downloaded data is transformed into relevant information that enables logistics and transport managers to make efficient decisions. Processed "DDD" files are stored in the NTS application, fulfilling all legal requirements for analysis and report creation. The application also provides reminders for downloading data — once every 28 days from the driver card and once every 90 days from the tachograph — to ensure compliance with legal obligations.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is required to use smart tachographs 2?

Smart tachographs 2 must be installed in all vehicles in international road transport weighing over 2.5 tons, within the prescribed deadlines.

What are the penalties for failing to meet the tachograph replacement deadlines?

Penalties for failing to meet the tachograph replacement deadlines may vary depending on the severity of the offense but can reach several hundred thousand dinars. In addition to fines, carriers may face restrictions on performing their activities.

Failure to comply with the prescribed deadlines for downloading data from the driver card and tachograph may result in fines up to 200,000 RSD.

How will the control of smart tachograph data be carried out?

The control of smart tachograph data will be carried out via remote technology, allowing data reading without stopping the vehicle, speeding up control and reducing the chance of irregularities.

What should carriers do to avoid penalties?

Carriers should timely replace tachographs and regularly download data from driver cards and tachographs to avoid fines and sanctions.

Timely replacement of tachographs and adherence to legal deadlines allows carriers to avoid high fines and ensure smooth operations.

Learn more about the benefits of the NTS Taho solution, which enables remote data download and offers reminders for deadlines. Use this solution to improve your business and avoid unnecessary fines.

 

Source: Law on Working Hours of Vehicle Crews in Road Transport and Tachographs