Thanks to the Mobility Package, changes to transport rules have been gradually introduced throughout the European Union for several years. In 2025, more significant changes will be introduced that will affect the organization of transportation and the daily work of drivers. What can carriers expect? How can you effectively prepare for future regulationsin? Read on to find out!
What is the Mobility Package and why was it introduced?
The Mobility Package is a set of EU regulations aimed at standardising drivers' working conditions, improving road safety and reducing unfair competition in the sector. The package contains revised principles for the delegation of drivers and rules on the calculation of working time, as well as regulating mandatory rest periods and return-to-base requirements.
Who is covered by the Mobility Package?
The rules apply to all companies covered by Regulation 561/2006 that send drivers to other EU countries for cabotage and international operations. Until now, the rules on access to the transport market did not apply to companies carrying out international freight transport with vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. The number of such companies has been growing over the years, which is why some Member States have decided to include these companies in the rules of Regulation (EC) No. 1071/2009, which regulates admission to the occupation of road transport operator.
A partial amendment to the Regulation was deemed necessary to unify the rules and raise standards in the transport sector for vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes. The changes are also aimed at levelling the playing field between carriers in individual countries. Currently, carriers carrying out international freight transport with vehicles weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes must have an appropriate licence.
What are the key changes that the Mobility Package will introduce in 2025?
In 2025, the scope of roadside checks was expanded in accordance with the new provisions of the Mobility Package. Drivers are now required to provide tachograph data for the last 56 days instead of 28 as before, effectively doubling the period subject to control. You can find more information in the article recently published on our blog.
Another significant change in transport regulation in 2025 is the mandatory use of second-generation smart tachographs in vehicles with a permissible gross weight of over 3.5 tonnes engaged in international transport.
New rules on drivers' working hours and rest periods.
The regulations clearly regulate the issue of multiple personnel. A driver can take his 45-minute break in a vehicle driven by another driver if he has crew status.
These changes also apply to weekly rest periods. Regular weekly rest and rest of more than 45 hours, which is taken as compensation for reduced rest, cannot be taken in the vehicle, it must be used in premises that meet the standards.
A driver engaged in international freight transport can take two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods, provided that they take at least four weekly rest periods within four weeks. According to the current rules, at least two of these rest periods must qualify as regular weekly rest periods .
In view of the above, if a driver takes two consecutive reduced weekly rest periods, the next weekly rest period must be preceded by a rest period designated as compensation . In this situation, the company must plan the driver’s work so that he can return at the appropriate time.
The rules outline the exceptional circumstances in which the daily and weekly driving time may be exceeded. This time may be extended by one hour when returning to the base or place of residence to take the weekly rest period. These rules, which allow the daily and weekly driving time to be exceeded by up to two hours , apply by analogy if the driver takes a break of at least 30 minutes immediately before the additional driving time. Please note that in such circumstances the driver must provide the reasons and any objective circumstances that forced him to apply the above exceptions. The explanations must be recorded by hand on the registration sheet, printout or in the duty schedule no later than upon arrival at the stopping place or destination.
New requirements for tachographs are planned for 2025
The new tachographs are equipped with a wide range of functions, such as:
• automatic detection of the country of border crossing,
• the ability of inspection bodies to conduct preliminary random checks (using DSRC technology),
• registration of loading and unloading operations (together with location determination).
The preliminary selection process allows for the detection of interference and allows for the rapid identification of vehicles whose drivers exceed the permissible driving time. Using DSRC technology, control body employees can view up to 25 parameters related to the operation of the tachograph. This will lead to more effective detection of violations and, as a result, increased traffic safety.
We remind you that the deadline for replacing G2V1 smart tachographs with a second-generation tachograph is August 18, 2025.
From July 1, 2026, tachographs will become mandatory in vehicles with a permissible total mass of 2.5 to 3.5 tons that carry out internationalsingle transport .
What changes have occurred regarding access to the transport market?
According to Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, transport operators must actively and continuously conduct business in their country of residence, using appropriate equipment and maintaining appropriate technical facilities on the basis of their activities. These requirements are intended to prevent fictitious registration of companies in other countries and to curb unfair practices related to long-term transport services outside the country of registration of the company.
The fight against such practices was one of the main reasons for the introduction of the mandatory return of drivers to their place of residence or to the company's base at least once every four weeks. The requirements for the base of operations located in the country of residence of the company have also increased. These requirements concern, among other things, the number of parking spaces.
Cabotage rules - what has changed?
The existing rules governing cabotage have been extended to include a four-day waiting period during which the right to carry out these transport operations is suspended. In practice, this means that it is prohibited to carry out cabotage operations with the same vehicle in the same EU country for four days after the last cabotage operation in that country. The four-day break period starts after the end of the transport operation and the vehicle leaves the country, regardless of the number of operations.
How will the 2025 mobility package affect hauliers?
The new rules may force hauliers to restructure their current transport operations, explore new routes and improve their operations. Additional costs are to be expected due to the need to improve the living conditions of drivers and additional obligations, such as adapting the fleet to the new rules. Requiring drivers to return to their place of residence regularly may have a negative impact on profitability. Accordingly, the market shows a tendency to reduce the fleet, which in turn reduces the flexibility in accepting transport orders. A clear trend emerging from this situation is the growing interest in partnerships between small companies and larger transport companies.
What innovative technological tools can help organizations comply with the new regulations?
In light of the increasing requirements of the Mobility Package, a TMS system provides invaluable support to transport companies. It allows for constant monitoring of transport operations, optimizes operating costs and ensures compliance with regulations. Thanks to the functions of reading tachograph data and driver cards, transporters can plan transport orders with greater accuracy, minimizing the risk of delays and violations.
What penalties can be imposed for violating the rules?
Transporters should plan for more frequent inspections – not only at the roadside, but also online via a driver reporting platform. According to the latest data, Denmark is currently leading in the number of such inspections.
What can be expected in terms of roadside inspections? The officers focus, among other tasks, on checking compliance with cabotage and weekly rest rules. As for penalties for infringements of the Mobility Package rules, each Member State sets its own sanctions, which are among the strictest in the European Union. A clear example is France, where infringements regarding the driver's return to base or residence for a 45-minute rest are punishable by a fine of €1,500. This amount can increase significantly if the same company commits repeated infringements; in these cases, fines can reach €3,000-4,500, and under French law the maximum penalty can reach €30,000.