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Van Drivers’ Hours & Tachographs

The New Rules

EU drivers’ hours, breaks and rest periods for 2.5–3.5t vans on international journeys from 1 July 2026.

Smart Tachograph 2

How to operate the G2V2 unit, driver cards, manual entries and border crossing records.

Instant Certificate

Complete the assessment online and download your certificate straight away.

About This Course

The EU Mobility Package extends drivers’ hours, rest period and tachograph requirements to goods vehicles over 2.5 tonnes used for international transport for hire and reward. From 1 July 2026 that brings thousands of UK vans into a regime their drivers have never worked under, including the Sprinter, Crafter, Transit and Boxer, and anything towing a trailer that tips the combination over the threshold.

This course covers what a van driver and their manager need to know: the driving limits and rest requirements under Regulation (EC) 561/2006, how to operate a Smart Tachograph 2 correctly, which journeys are exempt including own account transport, and how DVSA and EU enforcement detect infringements, increasingly remotely, before the vehicle is even stopped.

Why it matters: once a van crosses a border for hire or reward, the driver comes under the same driving time and tachograph rules as an HGV driver. Getting it wrong can mean fixed penalties, roadside prohibitions and operator licence action.
Duration
Approx. 2 Hours
Delivery
100% Online
Access
12 Months
Certificate
On Completion

What You’ll Learn

Rules & Scope

  • The 2.5–3.5 tonne band and how MAM is calculated
  • Hire and reward versus own account
  • Daily and weekly driving limits
  • The 45-minute break requirement
  • Daily and weekly rest periods
  • Exemptions, including own account transport
  • The UK domestic position for GB-only work

Tachograph & Compliance

  • Operating the Smart Tachograph 2 (G2V2)
  • Driver cards and mode switching
  • Manual entries and out-of-scope use
  • Automatic border crossing records
  • Downloading and storing tachograph data
  • Operator licensing for international LCV work
  • Roadside enforcement and penalties

Who Should Take This Course?

Van drivers on international journeys
Transport managers and compliance staff
Fleet operators and business owners
Owner-drivers running 2.5–3.5t vans

Why Train With National Compliance Training?

Ready Before the Deadline

Get drivers compliant in around 2 hours, without taking them off the road for a classroom day.

Built for Fleets

Volume pricing, consolidated invoicing and completion tracking for whole-team rollouts.

Transport Specialists

Written by a compliance provider that trains transport managers and operators every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my van need a tachograph if it only operates in the UK?
No. Vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes operating only within the UK stay under GB domestic drivers’ hours rules and do not need a tachograph fitted.
We move our own goods in our own van, are we exempt?
Own account international journeys in the 2.5–3.5 tonne band, where driving is not the driver’s main activity, are exempt from the tachograph requirement. The course covers how to evidence this at the roadside.
Does the trailer count towards the weight?
Yes. The threshold is the Maximum Authorised Mass of the combination. A van under 2.5 tonnes towing a trailer can be brought into scope, and a 3.5 tonne van with a trailer moves into the full HGV regime.
Do my drivers need Driver CPC?
Not for vans at or below 3.5 tonnes driven on a Category B licence. The new tachograph rules do not change the licence category or Driver CPC requirements.
How long does the course take and what do I get?
Around 2 hours, fully online and self-paced, with an end-of-course assessment and an instant downloadable certificate. Access lasts 12 months.

Get Your Drivers Ready for 1 July 2026

£25 per learner, fully online, with an instant certificate on completion.

Enrol Now — £25

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*Valid on all products. Does not include examination resits.

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