The Department for Transport (DfT) and the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recently issued a bulletin regarding the new rules that vehicle operators and their drivers will have to comply with if travelling on international journeys.

The changes will take place at the end of 2024 or at the start of 2025 and involve both HGV and PSV operations.

HGV Changes:

There are three areas where changes to driving a heavy goods vehicle internationally are to be made:

1. EU Drivers’ Hours Records

      Currently, the rules state that drivers must be able to produce drivers’ hours record sheets, manual records and printouts evidencing the last 28 days of activity within the European Union, just as they would if driving in the UK.  From 31^st December 2024 this period of documentation is to be extended to 56 days’ worth of evidence if driving within the European Union.  This will obviously involve drivers travelling from the UK on international journeys across the continent.  The documents and record keeping for drivers’ hours rules for operations undertaking this sort of work will therefore have to be adapted to ensure that suitable records for the extended period of 56 days are available.

2. Smart Tachograph 2 – Need for Retrofitting Vehicles for EU Travel

The EU regulation No. 165/2014 states the timeline for implementation of the “smart tachograph 2” technology which requires all vehicles crossing borders to have this tachograph technology fitted.  Any vehicles from the UK travelling in the EU must from 31^st December 2024 have this technology fitted, which will mean that vehicles with analogue or digital 1b tachographs must be retrofitted before this date with smart tachograph 2 devices if they are to be used for international journeys.

Vehicles fitted with smart tachograph 1 technology have until 21^st August 2025 before they too must be retrofitted with the new technology, if undertaking international journeys.

3. Dangerous Goods ADR – 2025 Update

“ADR” stands for the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road.  It is a set of regulations that govern the transportation of dangerous goods by road and enables those the goods to cross international borders freely.  It covers the safety of vehicles, drivers and the goods being transported and includes requirements for the construction, equipment and documentation of the vehicles carrying the goods as well as the packaging and labelling of the actual goods being carried.  It applies to all commercial vehicles and trailers carrying ‘dangerous goods’ as defined in bulk by road.  The body that is in charge of setting the rules for the ADR is the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).  The UNECE updates the rules and regulations governing this area every two years.  2025 is a designated ‘change’ year, which means that operators who are carrying Dangerous Goods may operate under the outgoing or the incoming rules from 1^st January 2025 to 30^th June 2025, but from 1^st July 2025 onwards must adhere to the new set of rules as specified by UNECE.  So make a note in your diary to review those rules well ahead of the July deadline to ensure that your vehicles are compliant.

PSV Changes:

1. EU Drivers’ Hours Rule.

UK coach (PSV) operators travelling to and from the EU will not be subject to the new requirement in the EU to carry 56 days’ worth of tachograph data, the Department for Transport (DfT) has clarified.   In order to meet international rules and obligations all operators of Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) with more than 10 seats undertaking journeys between the UK and EU should be operating under the  European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport, known as the AETR rules.  These rules are similar to the EU rules but there are some differences such as:

• Returning to base or the drivers’ country of residence
• Interrupting weekly rest periods
• Reaching the employer’s operational centre or driver’s home (unforeseen events)
• Accommodation for weekly rests
• 28 day document production.

For more information on the AETR rules and the differences please click here.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Operations Director, Keith McNally was reported in “Routeone” as having received assurances from the DfT relating to EU enforcement of the applicable rules. He goes on to admit though that the diversification from the EU Drivers’ Hours Rules may cause road enforcement personnel in the EU confusion and that this might lead to “complications”.

2. Smart Tachograph 2 Requirement

Similar to the HGV rules on this new technology PSV operators must ensure that any coaches coming from the UK and travelling in the EU must from 31^st December 2024 have this technology fitted, which will mean that vehicles with analogue or digital 1b tachographs must be retrofitted before this date with smart tachograph 2 devices if they are to be used for international journeys.  Those coaches with the smart tachograph 1 technology have until 21^st August 2025 before they too must be retrofitted with the new technology, if undertaking international journeys.  Unfortunately the requirements to have smart technology equipment retrofitted to older vehicles do not apply under AETR rules, which contradicts the current UK law.  The CPT reports that the DfT is taking this aspect under consideration and how enforcement of the rules will be applied will be communicated to PSV operators as soon as possible.

If you would like any advice on these matters or anything else to do with your transport operation and business then call us now on 01279 818280 or click here to send us an email.  We are here to help.

© Richard Pelly, January 2025