ECR EGTC contributes to discussion on new LCV rules

ECR EGTC brings enforcement perspective to high-level conference on light commercial vehicles

On 30 June 2026, ECR EGTC participated in the high-level conference “Light Vehicles. Big Changes.”, held at the Residence Palace in Brussels and dedicated to the extension of EU social road transport rules to light commercial vehicles.

The event brought together representatives of EU institutions, Member States, national enforcement authorities, social partners and road transport organisations to examine six years of implementation of the Mobility Package and the practical implications of the new requirements for light commercial vehicles.

ECR EGTC was represented by its Director, Heinz Albert Stumpen, who participated in the panel discussion “Good conditions, more drivers – focus on LCV drivers’ rights and ways to strengthen road transport social legislation.”

The panel also included representatives of CORTE, the European Transport Workers’ Federation, the International Road Transport Union and the European Road Haulers Association, bringing together enforcement, worker and operator perspectives on the implementation of the regulatory framework.

A new phase for light commercial vehicle enforcement

From 1 July 2026, EU driving and rest time rules and requirements concerning second-generation smart tachographs apply to light commercial vehicles with a maximum permissible mass above 2.5 tonnes and up to 3.5 tonnes when used for international transport of goods or cabotage for hire or reward.

Depending on the transport operation concerned, the rules on the posting of drivers may also apply.

The extension brings an additional category of vehicles and drivers within the scope of EU social road transport legislation. National enforcement authorities must therefore incorporate the new requirements into roadside controls and related inspection procedures.

The timing of the conference enabled participants to consider these practical implications immediately before the new requirements became applicable.

Six years of Mobility Package implementation

The conference opened with interventions from Cosmin Boiangiu, Executive Director of the European Labour Authority, and Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission.

The first debate reviewed six years of implementation of the Mobility Package. Representatives of the European Parliament, Member States and ROADPOL discussed developments relating to digitalisation, smart tachographs, information exchange, coordinated inspections and the enforcement of social road transport rules.

The discussions indicated that the existence of common EU rules does not necessarily lead to identical enforcement practices across Member States. Differences may arise in legal interpretation, national procedures, inspection resources, training and sanctioning systems.

These differences are particularly relevant in international road transport, where vehicles, drivers and undertakings may operate in several Member States and be subject to controls by different competent authorities.

Participants also considered the contribution of digital tools to more targeted controls and improved information exchange. At the same time, they noted that digitalisation must be supported by clear procedures, interoperable systems and appropriately trained enforcement personnel.

The conference also included an update on ELA’s remuneration tool, which is intended to improve access to information on remuneration conditions that may apply in cross-border situations, including in relation to the posting of drivers.

ECR EGTC contribution to the enforcement discussion

During the second panel discussion, ECR EGTC Director Heinz Albert Stumpen addressed the factors that influence compliance with road transport rules.

He observed that compliance is affected by both the perceived likelihood that an infringement will be detected and the consequences that follow when an infringement is established.

In this context, the Director referred to the importance of inspections, the use of technical means to support detection and the continued role of roadside controls. He also addressed differences between national sanctioning systems, noting that penalties must have a sufficiently dissuasive effect if they are to influence non-compliant operating practices.

Where the probability of detection is limited or the financial consequences can be treated as an operating cost, infringements may remain economically advantageous for non-compliant undertakings.

The Director also highlighted the need to distinguish between undertakings that make genuine efforts to comply with the applicable requirements and operators presenting indications of systematic non-compliance.

Compliant undertakings may invest in appropriate working conditions, driver training and professional development. By contrast, enforcement authorities may encounter cases in which drivers are placed under pressure to disregard driving and rest time requirements or in which employment and operating arrangements are used to circumvent applicable obligations.

A targeted approach allows authorities to direct inspection resources towards practices presenting a higher risk to road safety, drivers’ rights and fair competition.

Third-country drivers and fair working conditions

In response to a question concerning the growing presence of third-country nationals in the road transport sector, the Director emphasised that these drivers should receive conditions equivalent to those provided to local workers.

He referred to cases in which third-country drivers may be offered less favourable conditions, placed under pressure to disregard applicable requirements or engaged through arrangements that do not reflect the actual working relationship.

Some drivers may also be less familiar with their rights and obligations under EU and national legislation, increasing their vulnerability to non-compliant employment and operating practices.

The enforcement focus in such cases should remain on the conduct of the undertaking and the relevant working and operating arrangements, rather than on the nationality of the driver.

The Director linked this approach to one of ECR EGTC’s principal objectives: supporting fair competition by ensuring that undertakings complying with the rules are not placed at a disadvantage by operators that circumvent their legal obligations.

Training and correct use of smart tachographs

The wider panel discussion addressed the need for LCV drivers and operators to understand the correct use of second-generation smart tachographs.

Accurate recording of driving time, breaks, rest periods and other work is necessary both for compliance and for the effective verification of the applicable requirements. Incorrect or incomplete use may complicate the assessment of a driver’s activities during roadside controls.

Participants noted that levels of preparedness may vary between undertakings. Companies already operating heavy goods vehicles are generally familiar with driving and rest time rules and tachograph requirements, while smaller operators entering this regulatory framework for the first time may require further information and support.

The discussion referred to the responsibility of undertakings to ensure that drivers receive appropriate instruction or training. It also highlighted the need for clear and accessible information for drivers, operators and enforcement authorities, particularly where questions remain concerning the scope of the rules or their application to specific types of operation.

For enforcement authorities, the extension requires inspectors to have a common understanding of the applicable scope, relevant exemptions, tachograph data and the evidence required to determine whether an infringement has occurred.

The discussions also referred to the possibility of technical issues involving second-generation smart tachographs. Inspectors may need to distinguish between equipment or software problems and indications of deliberate manipulation. Appropriate training and access to technical information will therefore remain important.

Digital tools can support more targeted controls, but their effective use also depends on trained personnel, reliable information and cooperation between competent authorities.

A post-conference perspective from the DRT Expert Group

Following the conference, Rogier Kemeling, Chair of the ECR EGTC Driving and Rest Time Expert Group, highlighted the importance of monitoring how Member States apply the new requirements in practice. He pointed in particular to possible differences in inspector training, warning periods, sanctioning approaches, weight verification and measurement methods, which will inform the Expert Group’s forthcoming discussions.

Cross-border cooperation and information exchange

Cooperation between national authorities was a recurring subject throughout the conference.

The discussions addressed information-exchange systems, digital tools, coordinated controls and cooperation between transport, labour and police authorities. Participants also noted that effective enforcement depends not only on cooperation between Member States, but also on coordination between the competent authorities within each country.

The international nature of road transport means that vehicles, drivers and undertakings may operate across several jurisdictions. Differences in interpretation, inspection procedures and sanctions can therefore affect the consistent application of the regulatory framework and the conditions under which undertakings compete.

Several contributions referred to the need to improve the use of existing information-exchange systems and to ensure that competent authorities can obtain relevant information in a timely and reliable manner.

The discussions also recognised the role of joint and coordinated inspections in addressing infringements with a cross-border dimension. Cooperation between roadside enforcement authorities, labour inspectorates and other competent bodies may enable a more complete assessment of the vehicle, driver, undertaking and employment arrangements concerned.

ECR EGTC supports exchanges between national road transport enforcement authorities through its Expert Groups, training activities and multilateral cooperation initiatives.

Information obtained through roadside inspections and national enforcement activities can help identify divergent practices, emerging control issues and areas in which additional clarification or training may be required.

Such exchanges can contribute to a better understanding of how the rules are being applied across Member States and support more consistent cross-border enforcement, while respecting national competences and procedures.

ECR EGTC follow-up

ECR EGTC will continue to follow the implementation of the driving and rest time and smart tachograph requirements for light commercial vehicles through its established cooperation structures.

The follow-up will focus on collecting practical information from Member States, comparing inspection and implementation approaches and identifying questions that may require further technical discussion or clarification.

The Driving and Rest Time Expert Group will provide an appropriate framework for examining national enforcement priorities, inspection methods and the practical issues encountered during roadside controls.

Questions identified through this work may be raised with relevant European institutions or partner organisations where clarification or further technical discussion is considered necessary.

Experience gained during the first months of application will provide additional information on the functioning of the framework and on the issues encountered by enforcement authorities, drivers and operators.

Through this work, ECR EGTC will continue to support cooperation between its Member States and contribute to discussions concerning road safety, fair competition, driver protection and the consistent enforcement of EU road transport rules.

Return to overview