IRU welcomes Member States’ decision reached in the Road Transport Committee to introduce a two-month grace period for the EU’s upcoming legal retrofitting deadline. This provides critical support operators urgently need.
Following IRU’s call, based on clear evidence that a significant number of transport operators would not be prepared to continue cross-border operations as of 1 January due to delays in the retrofit with the Smart Tachograph Version 2 (G2V2), the European Commission recommended that EU Member States apply a two-month guidance period from 1 January 2025 to 28 February 2025. During this grace period, transport operators who have not yet retrofitted their vehicles will not face sanctions. Instead, efforts will be made to further raise their awareness of the retrofit requirement.
EU Member States reached consensus to grant this grace period in an emergency Road Transport Committee meeting this week. This measure aims to help operators and manufacturers address the retrofit backlog and minimise disruption to cross-border transport and EU supply chains.
IRU Director EU Advocacy Raluca Marian said, “This is a crucial and timely decision for the industry, and we thank Commissioner Tzitzikostas for showing strong leadership and pragmatism at the very start of his mandate by agreeing to gather Member States in this meeting to take such important decision. By addressing the operational challenges faced by transport operators, who have shown unprecedented mobilisation to meet the legal deadlines, the Commission and EU Member States have demonstrated a clear understanding of the vital role of the mobility and logistics chain in keeping Europe’s economy moving.”
“This grace period not only supports compliance but also safeguards EU mobility and ensures the uninterrupted flow of cross-border transport services. This decision reflects a balanced and constructive approach, giving operators the necessary time to retrofit vehicles while maintaining supply chain continuity,” she added.
What it means for the industry:
- Operational continuity: Ensures vehicles can continue cross-border operations during the grace period, preventing disruptions to EU supply chains.
- Support for compliance: Provides transport operators with additional time to retrofit vehicles while maintaining access to key markets.
- Industry collaboration: Strengthens cooperation between operators, workshops, and policymakers to meet legislative requirements efficiently.
IRU remains fully committed to supporting transport operators in meeting the retrofitting requirements.
This press release was updated on 21/12/2024.