EU Transport Rules Tighten as New July 2026 Regulations Take Effect

11 July 2026 · EN · NL · DE · FR

EU transport rules tighten as July 2026 regulations take effect

July 2026 has brought one of the busiest regulatory calendars European road freight has seen in years. New EU transport rules on tachographs, braking systems and tolling landed within days of each other, just as seasonal truck bans and an ongoing driver shortage started squeezing capacity across the continent. Here is what carriers and shippers need to know, grouped by theme.

Vans, brakes and tolls: what changed on 1 July 2026

Vans enter the tachograph regime

From 1 July 2026, light goods vehicles used for international EU transport must carry a smart tachograph under Mobility Package 1. This brings van drivers under standard EU driving and rest time rules and posting-of-workers obligations that previously applied mainly to trucks. The rule extends further down the weight scale too: vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes used in international transport or cabotage now need a second-generation smart tachograph (G2V2), with no transition period. Fleets running vans across borders should assume full compliance is required immediately, not phased in.

Automated braking becomes mandatory

From 7 July 2026, advanced emergency braking systems (AEB) became mandatory in newly manufactured trucks under the EU's General Safety Regulation, a requirement already in force for cars and vans. For fleets ordering new vehicles, this is now a standard spec rather than an option.

The Netherlands replaces the Eurovignette

Since 1 July 2026, Dutch tolls for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are calculated by kilometres driven and CO2 emission class, covering motorways and many regional roads, ending the Eurovignette system for Dutch trucks. Toll4Europe has confirmed RDW certification as an authorised EETS provider ahead of the launch, meaning customer on-board units (OBUs) can automatically record mileage and handle payment. Carriers running into the Netherlands should confirm their toll provider is properly accredited before crossing the border.

Driver shortage collides with summer truck bans

Germany's nine-week Saturday truck ban began on 4 July 2026, running alongside seasonal restrictions in France, Austria, Poland, Italy, Czechia and Hungary. The IRU estimates 444,000 unfilled driver positions across Europe, meaning capacity is already tight before these bans layer on top.

France bans trucks above 7.5 tonnes on Saturdays between 07:00 and 19:00 from 1 July through 31 August 2026, with 11, 18 and 25 July carrying the heaviest combined restriction load and knock-on effects into Luxembourg. Austria bars trucks entirely from the A12 Inntal and A13 Brenner for southbound loads, while Poland bans trucks above 12 tonnes on all roads on Fridays 18:00-22:00, Saturdays 08:00-14:00 and Sundays 08:00-22:00 through summer.

For planners, this means Alpine and Benelux transit corridors face compounding restrictions on the same weekends. Building buffer days around 11, 18 and 25 July, and confirming routing alternatives around the Brenner and Inntal, is worth doing now rather than reacting on the day.

Compliance risk for foreign hauliers on the Dutch toll

Foreign carriers relying only on Germany's Toll Collect or Belgium's Satellic devices need new contracts, since those OBUs are not compatible with the Dutch system. Driving without a valid OBU from 1 July 2026 can result in fines or vehicle impoundment. Any fleet regularly crossing into the Netherlands should check OBU compatibility now rather than at the border.

Labour action still disrupting networks

French rail union SUD-Rail holds a rolling strike notice allowing action anywhere on the network with only prior-evening notice through 1 September, adding an unpredictable layer to French logistics planning. German warning strikes have also hit road maintenance depots and Autobahn GmbH sites in 2026, which can affect road condition reporting and maintenance schedules even where freight itself keeps moving.

Looking ahead: eFTI and Italy's Euro 5 ban

Since January 2026, eFTI platforms and service providers have been able to start preparing operations, and member states may begin accepting certified eFTI data for inspection ahead of full mandatory acceptance from 9 July 2027. Carriers and shippers still running paper-based documentation have roughly a year left to transition.

Separately, Italy will enforce a ban on Euro 5 diesel N1-N3 vehicles, including foreign trucks and vans, across Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto from October 2026. Penalties start at €168, with repeat violations triggering a one-month driving ban. Fleets running older diesel vans and trucks into northern Italy should check their Euro emission class well before autumn.

Sources

• EU van tachograph rules take effect for light commercial vehicles
• Advanced emergency braking becomes mandatory in new trucks
• Toll4Europe accredited as EETS provider for new Dutch truck toll
• European driver shortage collides with summer truck bans
• EU Mobility Package extends driving-time rules to 2.5-3.5t vans
• Netherlands replaces Eurovignette with distance-based truck toll
• eFTI Regulation preparation phase continues ahead of 2027 mandate
• Italy to ban Euro 5 diesel trucks in four northern regions
• Dutch truck toll rollout risks fines for unprepared foreign hauliers
• Rolling industrial action continues to affect French and German transport networks