Hours Rules, Tachographs and AETR: What UK Hauliers Must Know in 2025

If you run trucks across borders, manage a fleet, or spend long hours behind the wheel of an HGV, 2025 is shaping up to be a year where staying on top of the rules really matters. Between new tachograph technology requirements, updated hours legislation for international routes, and a raft of other changes rolling in throughout the year, there's a lot to keep track of. This post breaks down the most important updates so you know exactly where you stand — and what you need to do about it.

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The AETR Shift: What Changed for International Drivers in April 2025

One of the biggest changes this year landed on 21 April 2025, when the UK formally transitioned to AETR (European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles) rules for international journeys involving non-EU countries.

If you're only running domestic routes, your daily drivers' hours rules haven't changed — the UK's assimilated drivers' hours rules (formerly referred to as EU rules) still apply as before. But if your drivers are crossing into non-EU countries, there are two key things to be aware of:

The 56-Day Record Requirement

Previously, drivers on international routes needed to carry 28 days' worth of tachograph records. Under AETR, that requirement has doubled to 56 days — the current day plus the previous 55. That means drivers need to be able to produce digital data, analogue charts, and manual entries going back nearly two months if asked at the roadside or a check point.

This is a significant operational change. Make sure your drivers understand what they need to carry and that your back-office systems can pull records quickly. Using a digital compliance tool (like TruckCheck) to store and access records remotely can take a lot of the stress out of this.

The End of Return-to-Base Flexibility

Under AETR, the informal flexibility that previously allowed drivers to slightly exceed their hours in order to get back to base is no longer permitted on routes that fall under these rules. If your drivers are running UK-to-non-EU legs, they need to plan their journeys strictly within the hours limits — no exceptions for "just getting home."

This is the kind of rule that catches people out because it was rarely enforced before. That's changing.

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Smart Tachograph Version 2: The August 2025 Deadline

Tachograph technology is also moving on. By 18 August 2025, all HGVs over 3.5 tonnes involved in international transport must be fitted with a Smart Tachograph Version 2 (G2V2). If your vehicles are still running Smart Tachograph 1 units, or older analogue or digital devices, they'll need to be retrofitted before that date.

G2V2 units bring a couple of genuine improvements worth knowing about:

• Automated border crossing registration — the tachograph logs when the vehicle crosses a border automatically, removing the need for drivers to manually input country changes.
• Enhanced GPS tracking — this gives the DVSA the ability to monitor compliance remotely, not just at the roadside.

That second point is important. The DVSA has been expanding its use of remote tachograph sensing — technology that lets enforcement officers check tachograph data without stopping the vehicle. If your tachograph data doesn't stack up, there's now a greater chance of it being flagged before a driver even pulls over.

The DVSA's own Earned Recognition audit standards (published on GOV.UK) make clear that operators are expected to have robust systems in place for monitoring drivers' hours, tachograph compliance, and vehicle maintenance. If you're aiming for Earned Recognition status — or simply want to avoid enforcement action — this is the benchmark to measure yourself against.

Don't leave the retrofit until July. Tachograph calibration centres are going to be busy, and you don't want vehicles off the road at the last minute.

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Enforcement Is Getting Sharper — and So Are the Penalties

The DVSA isn't just updating the rules — it's actively stepping up enforcement. Roadside spot checks have increased, and remote sensing means more data is being reviewed without drivers or operators even knowing it's happening.

Fixed penalties for hours-of-service infringements currently sit at around £300 per offence. That might sound manageable as a one-off, but infringements rarely come alone — and serious or repeated breaches can lead to operator licence reviews and potential suspension.

It's also worth making sure your team is using the correct legal terminology. What was previously referred to as "EU drivers' hours rules" is now officially called the assimilated drivers' hours rules in UK law. It's not just a name change — it signals that the UK is maintaining and enforcing its own framework, and operators need to treat it accordingly.

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Other Updates Worth Flagging in 2025

Scotland Speed Limit Changes

The Scottish Government is in the process of aligning HGV speed limits with England and Wales. On single carriageways, the limit for HGVs will rise from 40mph to 50mph, and on dual carriageways from 50mph to 60mph. Full rollout across the trunk road network is expected through 2025–2026. For drivers regularly running Scottish routes, this is welcome news — but keep an eye on local signage as the changes bed in, and make sure drivers are aware the limits vary during the transition.

CGM Devices for Insulin-Treated Diabetic Drivers

From 7 November 2025, the DVLA updated medical standards for Group 2 licence holders with insulin-treated diabetes. Eligible drivers can now use Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems while driving, provided they meet the relevant safety criteria. This is a practical step forward for keeping experienced drivers on the road safely — if this applies to anyone in your fleet, it's worth reviewing the updated DVLA guidance directly.

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Keeping on Top of It All

2025 has a lot moving at once — AETR transitions, new tachograph hardware deadlines, updated enforcement approaches, and medical standard changes. For transport managers juggling day-to-day operations, it's easy for compliance to slip through the cracks.

Staying compliant isn't just about avoiding fines. It protects your operator licence, your drivers, and your reputation. Tools like TruckCheck are built to help fleet operators stay on top of exactly this kind of ongoing requirement — from tachograph record management to driver documentation.

Want to see how it works in practice? Try TruckCheck free or get in touch — we're happy to walk you through it.