In short: EU Mobility Package I consists of three 2020 legal acts: Regulation (EU) 2020/1054 (driving and rest times, tachographs), Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 (market access, cabotage, vans over 2.5 t) and Directive (EU) 2020/1057 (posting of drivers). It was phased in from 20 August 2020 to 1 July 2026, when the smart tachograph and driving-time rules became mandatory for 2.5–3.5 t vans used in cross-border transport.
The three legal acts
| Act | Content | Applies since |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation (EU) 2020/1054 | driving and rest times (Reg. 561/2006), tachographs (Reg. 165/2014) | 20 Aug 2020 |
| Directive (EU) 2020/1057 | posting of drivers, enforcement | 2 Feb 2022 |
| Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 | access to the occupation (Reg. 1071/2009), market access and cabotage (Reg. 1072/2009) | 21 Feb 2022 |
The European Commission presents these rules as "Mobility Package I"; its pages list no "Mobility Package II" with separate road haulage rules. Every stage up to 2026 below belongs to Package I.
Driving and rest times (Reg. 2020/1054)
Basic limits under Regulation 561/2006, as summarised by the European Labour Authority (ELA):
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Daily driving | 9 h, up to 10 h twice a week |
| Weekly driving | max. 56 h |
| Two consecutive weeks | max. 90 h |
| Break | 45 min after 4.5 h driving |
| Daily rest | at least 11 h uninterrupted |
| Regular weekly rest | at least 45 h uninterrupted |
What the package changed:
- No regular weekly rest in the cab. Rests of at least 45 hours must be taken in suitable accommodation, paid for by the employer.
- Return of the driver: the operator must organise work so the driver can return to their place of residence or the operational centre every 3 or 4 weeks (depending on whether reduced weekly rests were taken in a row), at the operator's cost.
- Two consecutive reduced weekly rests are allowed in international goods transport outside the Member State of establishment, followed by compensation before the next regular weekly rest.
- Exceptional extension: in unforeseen circumstances, driving time may be exceeded by up to 2 hours to reach home or the operational centre for a weekly rest; record the reason manually and compensate by the end of the third following week.
More: EU driving and rest times and weekly rest and return-home rule.
Market access and cabotage (Reg. 2020/1055)
- Cabotage: max. 3 operations within 7 days after an incoming international haul, then a 4-day cooling-off for the same vehicle in the same country. Details: EU cabotage rules.
- Vans 2.5–3.5 t: since 21 May 2022, operators using them for international hire-or-reward transport need a Community licence; financial standing €1,800 for the first vehicle and €900 for each additional one. Details: EU licence for vans.
- Establishment: stricter requirements for a genuine establishment (premises, documents, vehicles). The rule that vehicles must return to an operational centre in the Member State of establishment every 8 weeks was annulled by the EU Court of Justice on 4 October 2024.
Posting of drivers (Directive 2020/1057)
Since 2 February 2022, cabotage and cross-trade count as posting; bilateral trips (including limited extra loading or unloading) and transit are exempt. Declarations go only through the EU RTPD portal (connected to IMI), at the latest when the posting starts. On board: a copy of the declaration, transport evidence (e.g. e-CMR) and tachograph records.
Tachographs
Vehicles registered from 21 August 2023 carry the smart tachograph version 2, which records border crossings automatically. In international transport, analogue and non-smart digital units had to be retrofitted by 31 December 2024 and smart tachographs version 1 by 18 August 2025. Since 31 December 2024 drivers must be able to show records for the last 56 days. For vans the obligation has applied since 1 July 2026 – details: tachographs for vans.
Timeline at a glance
| Date | What applies |
|---|---|
| 20 Aug 2020 | new driving and rest rules, driver return, ban on weekly rest in the cab |
| 2 Feb 2022 | posting rules, RTPD portal, manual border-crossing entries |
| 21 Feb 2022 | new cabotage and establishment rules |
| 21 May 2022 | Community licence for vans over 2.5 t in international transport |
| 21 Aug 2023 | smart tachograph V2 in new vehicles |
| 4 Oct 2024 | CJEU: 8-week vehicle return annulled, other contested rules upheld |
| 31 Dec 2024 | retrofit deadline analogue/digital, 56 days of records |
| 18 Aug 2025 | retrofit deadline smart tachograph V1 |
| 1 Jul 2026 | tachograph and driving-time rules for 2.5–3.5 t vans in international transport |
What it means for dispatch
Driver return, cabotage cooling-off and posting change vehicle rotations and the cost per trip; accommodation and return trips belong in the costing alongside tolls and diesel. For tolls and fuel on a route: Calculate your route. For the full cost picture: truck cost per km.
This article is not legal advice.
FAQ
What does EU Mobility Package I cover?
Driving and rest times, driver return, cabotage, establishment, posting, tachographs and the licence requirement for vans over 2.5 t.
Does the 8-week return rule for trucks still apply?
No. The EU Court of Justice annulled it on 4 October 2024 but upheld the driver return rule.
When do vans need a tachograph?
Since 1 July 2026, vehicles of 2.5–3.5 t used in international transport or cabotage need a smart tachograph version 2.
Can drivers take the 45-hour weekly rest in the truck?
No. The regular weekly rest must be taken in suitable accommodation paid for by the employer.
Sources
- European Commission: Mobility Package I
- European Commission: Driving and rest times (MP I)
- European Commission: Market rules (MP I)
- European Commission: Rules on cabotage from 21 February 2022
- European Commission: Q&A on posting of drivers
- European Commission: Q&A on tachograph provisions of MP I
- ELA: Driving and rest rules and tachographs for vans from 1 July 2026
- ELA: Light commercial vehicles information page
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, consolidated 21 Feb 2022
- EUR-Lex: SWD(2024) 215, Social rules in road transport
- European Parliament: press release on adoption of the package
- CJEU press release, Joined Cases C-541/20 to C-555/20
Last updated: October 2026. Check deadlines and exemptions in the official source before relying on them.