The new tachograph law will change the way many international van transport operations are planned, particularly for light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 2,500 kg.
As of July 1, 2026, these vehicles, when used for international transport or cabotage, will be subject to stricter rules regarding tachographs, driving times, and rest periods.
For customers, one of the most important questions is simple:
The answer is: for some services, yes. Especially in urgent, dedicated, and long-distance international transport.
The new legislation does not just change the documentation. It changes the way a van can operate over long distances.
Until now, many international express van transport services benefited from greater flexibility. Under the new rules, drivers are subject to driving limits, mandatory breaks, and rest periods that must be observed.
This means that, on some routes, the same distance may require more time, more planning, or more resources.
It will be necessary to consider:
This additional planning increases complexity but also makes transport safer, more predictable, and more transparent.
The impact on the price will not be the same for all services.
Domestic transport, small loads, shorter routes, or shipments requiring greater flexibility may see a lesser impact. In some cases, it will be possible to find alternatives that strike a better balance between delivery time and cost.
The greatest impacts are expected to be felt in international transport using vans exceeding 2,500 kg, particularly when three conditions occur simultaneously:
In these cases, maintaining speed may require special solutions.
Alfaloc solutions—solutions like Foguete — that keep pace with your urgent delivery needs.
The services most affected by the new legislation will be long-distance international urgent transport using vans weighing between 2,500 kg and 3,500 kg.
The best way to reduce the impact is to plan each shipment better. Whenever possible, we recommend that the client provide detailed information regarding:
With this information, alfaloc can propose the most suitable solution, avoiding unnecessary costs.
Speak to the alfaloc team.
We analyze the cargo, route, timeframe, and shipping requirements to present the most suitable solution, featuring a realistic transit time and pricing tailored to the operation.
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