The new legislation will change the way international van transport is planned.
As of July 1, 2026, light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 2,500 kg will be subject to new obligations regarding tachographs, driving times, and rest periods when used for international transport or cabotage.
This change is part of the European Union’s Mobility Package and aims to enhance road safety, improve drivers’ working conditions, and create more balanced rules for international transport.
For customers, the most visible impact will be on transit times, vehicle availability, and the cost of certain urgent solutions.
Until now, many vans used for international express transport offered greater operational flexibility. In many cases, it was possible to cover long distances with very rapid response times, especially for dedicated services.
Under the new legislation, light commercial vehicles exceeding 2,500 kg are now required to comply with stricter rules, similar to those applied to heavy transport.
In practice, this means:
The new tachograph law applies to light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 2,500 kg and up to 3,500 kg, when used in international freight transport or cabotage operations. Confirm with the Frota alfaloc.
This means that not all vans are affected in the same way.
The application depends on factors such as:
Therefore, each shipment must be analyzed individually, taking into account the cargo, the route, and the desired timeframe.
This is one of the most important points for companies.
On long-haul international routes, a van subject to the new legislation will not be permitted to operate continuously, as was the case with many express services. The driver will be required to observe mandatory break and rest periods.
This means that, on some routes, travel time may increase.
Long-distance international transport using a dedicated van with a single driver may no longer be the fastest solution. While the van remains dedicated, secure, and personalized, it may need to stop to comply with mandatory rest periods.
Therefore, the urgency comes to depend more on the design of the solution.
No. Urgent international transport continues to exist.
Alfaloc will continue to offer urgent solutions—rapid transport with short transit times. Foguete will remain one of the fastest solutions on the market.
What changes is the way it will have to be planned.
To maintain very fast transit times, specific solutions may be required, such as:
The ideal solution will always depend on the load, the distance, the actual urgency, the available budget, and the required level of security.
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use | Dispute Resolution | Cookies
Developed by Brand by Difference
