UK Haulage 2025: DVSA Updates, Key Shows, and Fleet Compliance Essentials

2025 is shaping up to be one of the busiest years in recent memory for UK haulage. Between sweeping DVSA regulatory changes, a packed events calendar, and continued pressure on driver availability and fleet electrification, there's a lot for operators and transport managers to keep on top of. Whether you're running a handful of trucks or managing a large mixed fleet, staying ahead of compliance requirements has never been more important — or more complex. Here's a practical rundown of what matters most right now.

---

DVSA Regulatory Changes You Need to Know

Brake Testing Gets Stricter From April 2025

The biggest compliance shake-up of the year landed on 1 April 2025: the DVSA officially stopped accepting unladen roller brake tests. If you're still relying on those, you're now operating outside the rules.

From this date, operators must carry out at least four laden roller brake tests per year, with vehicles loaded to at least 65% of design axle weight. The alternative is fitting an approved Electronic Braking Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) — a continuous monitoring solution that captures braking data in real time.

This isn't just a paperwork exercise. Braking performance is one of the most scrutinised areas in any DVSA inspection, and the DVSA Earned Recognition audit standards are clear that operators should have documented, repeatable processes for vehicle safety checks. If your current maintenance records don't reflect the new testing frequency, now is the time to update your system and get it right.

Smart Tachograph Version 2 Deadline Approaching

For any operator running internationally, August 2025 brings another hard deadline. All vehicles over 3.5 tonnes crossing international borders must be fitted with Smart Tachograph Version 2. The upgrade isn't optional — it introduces automated border-crossing recording and improved GPS tracking, making manual annotations for cross-border movements a thing of the past.

Alongside this, 21 April 2025 saw the UK adopt AETR rules on driver records for international journeys, doubling the required retention period from 28 days to 56 days. That's a significant jump, and if your tachograph data management process hasn't been updated to reflect this, there's a real risk of non-compliance during roadside checks.

London DVS: The Grace Period Is Over

If you're running HGVs over 12 tonnes into London, the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) grace period ended on 4 May 2025. Vehicles now need to meet the 3-star rating or have a compliant Progressive Safe System (PSS) fitted. Operators caught running non-compliant vehicles face daily fines of up to £550 — and TfL enforcement is active. Don't assume you'll get a warning.

Tools like TruckCheck can help you log and track which vehicles in your fleet are DVS-compliant and flag any that need PSS installation before they're dispatched into London.

---

Scotland's Speed Limit Update: What's Changing

For operators running routes through Scotland, there's welcome news on the horizon. Following a public consultation, the Scottish Government has confirmed plans to increase HGV speed limits on single carriageways from 40mph to 50mph, aligning with the limits already in place in England and Wales.

The reasoning is straightforward: the existing 40mph limit has long been blamed for encouraging dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and vehicle "platooning," where frustrated car drivers bunch up behind slower HGVs. The new 50mph limit should ease congestion, reduce risk, and make Scottish routes more practical for freight operators.

While the change is confirmed, make sure your drivers are briefed on where and when the new limits apply — and that your vehicle policies are updated accordingly.

---

UK Truck Shows and Events in 2025

Beyond the regulatory side of things, 2025 is a strong year for industry events. Whether you're looking to explore new kit, network with other operators, or simply enjoy the culture of trucking, there's plenty on the calendar.

• Commercial Vehicle Show – 29 April to 1 May at the NEC, Birmingham. The UK's leading trade event for fleet buyers and operators. A great place to assess new vehicles, technology, and compliance solutions.
• Truckfest Lincoln – 4–5 May, kicking off a series of nine regional shows across the country, including Truckfest Scotland on 2–3 August. A favourite for drivers and enthusiasts alike.
• Road Transport Expo – 24–26 June at NAEC Stoneleigh. This year's focus is heavily on fleet decarbonisation, with "ride and drive" sessions for electric and alternative fuel vehicles.
• Convoy in the Park – 9–10 August at Donington Park. Featuring the British Truck Racing Championship and over 1,000 show trucks — a brilliant day out for the whole family and a celebration of trucking culture at its best.

These events aren't just for enthusiasts. They're genuinely useful for staying informed on industry direction, particularly as electrification continues to develop.

---

Fleet Trends and the Bigger Picture

Electric Trucks: Progress, But Reality Bites

Electric truck registrations jumped by a remarkable 170.5% in 2025 — impressive on paper, but they still represent just 1.4% of total new registrations. Infrastructure remains the sticking point, with charging capacity lagging well behind ambition. The Road Transport Expo in June will be worth attending if you want a realistic picture of where the technology actually is right now.

Market Conditions and Driver Shortages

New truck registrations overall fell around 10% year-on-year, landing at approximately 40,504 units. DAF Trucks held its position as market leader with a 29.7% share. Meanwhile, driver vacancies climbed to 26% by Q4 2025 — a persistent problem driven by retirements and wage competition that shows no sign of resolving quickly.

National Highways is also running its "Know the HGV Zones" campaign throughout 2025, aimed at educating car drivers about truck blind spots. As a fleet operator, it's worth sharing this campaign with your drivers — awareness on both sides of the road saves lives.

Keeping Compliance Manageable

With so much changing so quickly, keeping manual records across brake tests, tachograph data, DVS compliance, and routine inspections is increasingly difficult to do reliably. The DVSA Earned Recognition standards are explicit about the need for consistent, auditable processes — and that's exactly what a good fleet compliance system should support.

TruckCheck is built specifically for UK operators to manage exactly this kind of day-to-day compliance, from walkaround checks to inspection scheduling, in one straightforward place.

---

2025 is a year where staying compliant means staying proactive. The regulatory changes are real, the deadlines have passed or are approaching fast, and the pressure on operators isn't letting up. Get your processes in order now rather than waiting for a DVSA encounter to force the issue.

Try TruckCheck free or get in touch to see how it works.