UK Haulage 2025: New DVSA Rules, Shows, and Fleet Compliance Essentials

If you run HGVs in the UK, 2025 has been anything but quiet. Between tightened brake testing rules, new tachograph mandates for international work, and a flurry of industry events packed with glimpses of where the sector is heading, there's been plenty to keep operators and transport managers on their toes. Here's a straightforward rundown of what's changed, what it means for your fleet, and what you need to be doing now.

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DVSA Brake Testing: The Rules Have Changed

This is probably the biggest day-to-day compliance shift of the year, and one that's caught a few operators off guard.

Four Tests a Year — Minimum

From 1 April 2025, the DVSA now requires operators to carry out at least four laden roller brake tests annually on each HGV. That's a significant step up from the previous requirement of just one per year. The intention is simple: more frequent testing catches brake deterioration earlier, before it becomes a safety risk on the road.

There's also a loading requirement to go with it. Vehicles must be loaded to at least 65% of their design axle weight during testing to get accurate results. An underloaded vehicle can mask braking issues that only show up under realistic conditions.

Load Simulation Rollers Approved

The obvious headache with laden testing is the logistics of physically loading a vehicle four times a year. The DVSA acknowledged this and, from 21 August 2025, approved the use of load simulation brake rollers. These devices replicate the effect of a full load, so you can run a compliant test without having to source and move heavy weights each time. For operators who don't have an easy way to load vehicles at their maintenance facility, this is genuinely useful.

If you're using fleet compliance software like TruckCheck to manage your maintenance schedules, now is the time to make sure brake test intervals are built into your system properly — four times a year, not one.

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Smart Tachographs and AETR: What International Operators Must Know

If any of your vehicles cross international borders — whether into EU countries or other AETR signatory states — two major changes apply to you in 2025.

Smart Tachograph Version 2 Deadline

18 August 2025 was the deadline for all HGVs engaged in international work to be retrofitted with Smart Tachograph Version 2 (SMT2). If you haven't done this yet, you're already operating outside the rules. SMT2 units offer improved data accuracy, better enforcement connectivity, and are designed to align with the EU's digital enforcement infrastructure.

Domestic-only operators are currently exempt from this upgrade, but it's worth keeping an eye on whether that changes as wider tachograph policy evolves.

AETR Rules and 56-Day Record Retention

From 21 April 2025, HGVs on international routes — including those transiting the EU or operating to non-EU AETR countries — must comply with AETR rules on drivers' hours. One of the most practically important changes is the tachograph record retention requirement, which has doubled from 28 to 56 days. Drivers need to carry records covering the previous 56 days when on international runs.

Weekly rest rules have also tightened under AETR. Make sure your transport managers are briefed on the specifics and that your driver walkaround and debrief procedures reflect the updated requirements. The DVSA's Earned Recognition audit standards (available on GOV.UK) are a useful reference point for benchmarking your own compliance processes against what enforcement expects to see.

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Industry Shows: Electric Trucks and the Road to Net Zero

The show circuit in 2025 gave the industry a clear view of where vehicle technology is heading — even if widespread adoption is still some way off.

CV Show 2025

The Commercial Vehicle Show at NEC Birmingham (29 April – 1 May) drew over 13,000 visitors and more than 250 exhibitors. The centrepiece was the "Destination Net Zero" zone, reflecting the industry's growing focus on decarbonisation. Two high-profile debuts stood out: the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 and the DAF XF Electric, both representing serious efforts to bring heavy-duty electric trucks to market.

That said, the reality on the ground is more cautious. Electric vans accounted for around 6.3% of new registrations, but for heavy haulage, electrification is still largely in the pilot phase. Infrastructure — charging capacity, range, payload trade-offs — remains the limiting factor for most operators.

RTX and Truckfest

The Road Transport Expo (RTX) expanded its footprint in 2025, with RTX Scotland launching at the SEC Glasgow (19–20 November), giving northern operators a dedicated regional event. The flagship RTX Stoneleigh continues to be the go-to for fleet professionals looking for everything in one place.

Truckfest rolled through Lincoln in May, Scotland in August, and Peterborough later in the year. On the enthusiast side, Struan Gillie took the title of 2025 Truck of the Year — well deserved by all accounts.

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The Driver Shortage Isn't Over

The good news is that vacancy rates have come down significantly from the crisis peak of 43% in 2021, settling at around 24% by early 2025. The bad news is that one in five businesses is still reporting missed deliveries because of driver unavailability — so the pressure hasn't gone away.

The longer-term concern is demographics. The average age of a UK HGV driver is now 51, with over 55% of the workforce aged between 50 and 65. That means a significant chunk of experienced drivers will be retiring within the next decade, and recruitment into the profession needs to pick up pace to fill the gap.

For fleet operators, this makes driver retention as important as recruitment. Compliance culture plays a role here too — drivers want to work for operators who take safety seriously and don't create unnecessary administrative headaches. Tools like TruckCheck can help reduce the paperwork burden on drivers while keeping your compliance records watertight.

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Stay on Top of It

2025 has raised the bar on fleet compliance across the board — more frequent brake testing, new tachograph requirements, and international rule changes that carry real enforcement consequences. Keeping up manually is a tall order.

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