As a result of the Mobility Package, changes to transportation regulations have gradually been introduced throughout the European Union over several years. In 2025, further significant changes will be introduced that will affect transport organization and drivers’ daily work. What can carriers anticipate? How can you effectively prepare for upcoming regulations? Read on to find out!
What exactly is the Mobility Package and why was it introduced?
The Mobility Package is a set of EU regulations designed to standardize drivers’ working conditions, enhance traffic safety, and reduce unfair competition in the industry. The package introduces revised driver delegation principles and working time settlement rules while also regulating mandatory rest periods and return-to-base requirements.
Who is impacted by the Mobility Package regulations?
The regulations apply to all companies covered by Regulation 561/2006 that deploy drivers to other EU countries for cabotage and cross-trade operations. Until now, regulations governing access to the transport market did not apply to companies conducting international freight transport with vehicles of up to 3.5 tons GVW. The number of such enterprises has been increasing for years, which is why some of the Member States have decided to include these companies under the rules of Regulation (EC) no. 1071/2009 governing admission to the occupation of road carrier.
A partial amendment to the Regulation was deemed necessary to unify the rules and elevate standards within the transport sector for vehicles of up to 3.5 tons. The changes were also designed to align competition conditions among carriers in individual countries. Currently, carriers conducting international goods transport with vehicles weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tons must hold a valid license.
What key changes will the Mobility Package introduce in 2025?
In 2025, the scope of roadside inspections was expanded under the new Mobility Package regulations. Drivers are now required to present tachograph data from the last 56 days instead of 28, as previously, effectively doubling the period subject to control. You can discover additional insights in the article published recently on our blog.
Another significant transportation regulation change in 2025 is the mandatory use of second-generation smart tachographs in vehicles with a permissible total weight exceeding 3.5 tons that perform international transport.
New regulations regarding drivers’ working hours and rest periods.
The regulations clearly address the issue of multi-manning. The driver can take their 45-minute break in a vehicle driven by another driver, as long as they hold crew status.
These changes also apply to weekly rest periods. Regular weekly rests and rests exceeding 45 hours, taken as compensation for shortened rests, cannot take place in the vehicle, they must be used in accommodations that comply with the regulations.
A driver engaged in international goods transport can take two consecutive shortened weekly rests, provided that within four weeks they take at least four weekly rests. According to applicable regulations, at least two of those rests must qualify as regular weekly rest periods.
Given the above, if a driver takes two consecutive shortened weekly rest periods, the subsequent weekly rest period must be preceded by a rest period allocated as compensation. In this situation, the company should schedule the driver’s work so they can return at an appropriate time.
Regulations outline exceptional circumstances under which daily and weekly driving time may be exceeded. This time may be extended by up to one hour when returning to base or place of residence to use the weekly rest period. These regulations, which allow the daily and weekly driving time to be exceeded by up to two hours, apply by analogy, provided the driver takes at least a 30-minute break immediately before the additional driving time. Please note that, under such circumstances, the driver must provide the reasons and any objective circumstances that compelled them to use the above exemptions. The explanations must be handwritten on the record sheet, printout, or duty roster no later than upon arrival at a stopping place or the destination.
New tachograph requirements scheduled for 2025
New tachographs come equipped with an extensive array of functions, such as:
- automatic identification of the country where the border was crossed,
- option for inspection authorities to conduct pre-selective controls (using DSRC technology),
- registering loading and unloading operations (along with assigning the location).
The preselection process enables the detection of tampering and allows for swift identification of vehicles whose drivers exceed permissible driving time. By leveraging DSRC technology, inspection authority employees can review up to 25 parameters related to tachograph operation. This will lead to more effective detection of violations and, consequently, increased traffic safety.
We would like to remind you that the deadline for replacing G2V1 smart tachographs for second-generation tachograph is 18 August 2025.
Tachographs will become mandatory in vehicles with a permissible total weight between 2.5 and 3.5 tons carrying out international transport as of 1 July 2026.
What new developments have emerged regarding access to the transport market?
Pursuant to Regulation (EC) no. 1071/2009, transport entrepreneurs must actively and continuously conduct business in their country of residence, using appropriate equipment and maintaining suitable technical facilities at their base of operations. These requirements are meant to prevent fictitious company registrations in other countries and curb unfair practices involving long-term transport services outside the enterprise’s country of registration.
Fighting this practice was one of the main reasons for introducing the mandatory requirement for drivers to return to their place of residence or the enterprise base at least once every four weeks. Requirements applicable to the base of operations, located in the company’s country of residence, have also increased. These requirements, among others, address the number of parking spots.
Cabotage regulations – what changed?
The existing regulations governing cabotage operations have been expanded to include a four-day waiting period, during which the right to carry out these operations is suspended. In practice, this means it is prohibited to carry out cabotage operations with the same vehicle in the same EU country for four days after the conclusion of the last cabotage operation in that country. The four-day break period begins once the transport is complete and the vehicle has left the country, regardless of the number of operations.
How will the 2025 Mobility Package affect carriers?
The new regulations may compel carriers to restructure their current transport operations, explore new routes and refine their activities further. Additional costs should be expected in connection with the need to improve drivers’ living conditions and additional obligations, such as adapting the fleet to new regulations. The requirement for drivers to regularly return to their place of residence could negatively affect profitability. Consequently, the market shows a trend toward fleet reduction, which in turn reduces flexibility in accepting transport orders. A clear trend emerging from this situation is a growing interest in partnerships between smaller companies and larger transport enterprises.
What innovative technology tools can help organizations meet new regulations?
In light of rising demands imposed by the Mobility Package, a TMS system provides invaluable support for transport companies. It enables ongoing monitoring of transport operations, optimizes operational costs and ensures compliance with regulations. With tachograph and driver card data reading functions, carriers can plan transport orders with greater precision, minimizing the risk of delays and violations.
What penalties may be imposed for violating the regulations?
Carriers should anticipate more frequent inspections – not only on the roadside but also online through the driver delegation reporting platform. According to the latest data, Denmark is currently in the lead when it comes to the number of these types of inspections.
What can be expected in the context of roadside inspections? Officers focus, among other tasks, on verifying compliance with rules governing cabotage operations and weekly rests. Regarding penalties for violating the Mobility Package regulations, each Member State establishes their own sanctions, which are among the most strictly enforced across the European Union. France is a prime example, where irregularities regarding a driver’s return to base or place of residence for a 45-minute rest are subject to a EUR 1500 fine. This amount can rise considerably if the same company commits repeated violations; in these cases, fines may reach EUR 3000–4500, and under French regulations, the maximum penalty can be as high as EUR 30,000.
