UK Haulage 2025: New Rules, Key Shows, and Staying Compliant

If 2025 has felt like a year of constant change for UK haulage, that's because it genuinely has been. From tightened London safety rules to new brake testing requirements and a shifting market for zero-emission vehicles, there's been a lot to keep on top of. Whether you're running a small owner-operator set-up or managing a large fleet, staying compliant and informed has never been more important — or more demanding. Here's a breakdown of the key developments shaping the industry right now.

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The Regulatory Updates You Can't Afford to Miss

London's Direct Vision Standard Just Got Serious

If any of your vehicles operate in Greater London, this one's urgent. The grace period for the Progressive Safe System (PSS) under the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) Phase 2 officially ended on 4 May 2025. From that date, every HGV over 12 tonnes entering Greater London must either hold a three-star DVS rating or be fitted with the full PSS package — that means blind-spot sensors, a moving-off information system, and other approved safety tech.

Get it wrong and you're looking at fines of up to £550 per day. That's not a typo. Per day. If you haven't already audited your fleet for PSS compliance, this needs to go straight to the top of your to-do list. Check with Transport for London and your vehicle manufacturer or fitment centre if you're unsure whether your trucks meet the standard.

Stricter Brake Testing — Four Times a Year

From 1 April 2025, the DVSA introduced a significant change to HGV MOT requirements. Vehicles must now undergo four laden roller brake tests (RBT) annually, replacing the previous single-test requirement. Crucially, each test must be carried out with the vehicle loaded to at least 65% of its design axle weight, so the results reflect real-world operating conditions rather than an empty trailer on a good day.

This is a meaningful shift. It means brake performance needs to be a consistent focus throughout the year, not just at annual test time. The DVSA's Earned Recognition audit standards make clear that documented, regular brake performance checks are a core part of what good compliance looks like — and with four RBTs now mandatory, your record-keeping needs to be watertight. Tools like TruckCheck can help you log and track these inspection records systematically, so nothing falls through the cracks.

International Operators: Tachograph and Record Changes

Running international routes? Two changes apply from 21 April 2025. First, drivers on non-EU international operations must now carry 56 days of driver records — double the previous 28-day requirement. Make sure your drivers know this and that your procedures are updated accordingly.

Second, if you have vehicles fitted with Smart Tachograph version 1, the deadline for retrofitting to Smart Tachograph 2 is 18 August 2025. Don't leave this until the last minute — fitting slots with approved tachograph centres are likely to fill up fast as the deadline approaches.

Tax Changes: EVs Included Now

From April 2025, both the HGV Road User Levy and Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates rose in line with inflation. One notable shift: electric HGVs are no longer VED-exempt. A new first-year rate of £10 has been introduced, reflecting the government's move to bring zero-emission trucks gradually into the road-funding framework. It's a modest figure for now, but it signals the direction of travel.

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The Industry Numbers Telling a Complicated Story

The wider market context in 2025 isn't exactly rosy. New HGV registrations have dropped by around 10%, falling to roughly 40,500 units — ending three consecutive years of post-pandemic growth. Higher interest rates and weak freight demand are squeezing purchasing decisions across the board.

Operationally, it's equally tough. Non-fuel costs have risen by nearly 6%, with insurance premiums and maintenance costs both up around 8% year-on-year. For owner-operators especially, those numbers hit hard when margins are already thin.

The one area of genuine growth is zero-emission vehicles. Uptake of electric and hydrogen HGVs grew by over 170% in 2025 — a striking figure, though it still only represents less than 4% of total new registrations. Diesel remains king at over 93% of the fleet. The transition is happening, but it's moving at its own pace, shaped by charging infrastructure, range limitations, and the upfront cost of new technology.

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The Shows Worth Knowing About

Despite the economic headwinds, the 2025 events calendar showed a healthy appetite for bringing the industry together.

The Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC Birmingham (29 April – 1 May) put a strong focus on the road to net zero, with a dedicated EV Zone showcasing hydrogen and electric solutions from major manufacturers and emerging players alike.

The Road Transport Expo (RTX) at NAEC Stoneleigh (24–26 June) drew record attendance of over 14,000 visitors and has firmly established itself as the summer's go-to event for anyone who's serious about trucks. If you missed it, pencil it in for 2026.

For later in the year, RTX Scotland runs on 19–20 November, offering a regional option for northern operators. And no mention of the show calendar would be complete without Truckfest — the flagship Lincoln event in early May featured over 5,000 vehicles and remains a favourite for drivers and enthusiasts alike.

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Keeping Compliance Under Control

With so much changing at once — brake testing schedules, tachograph upgrades, DVS fitment deadlines, updated record-keeping requirements — the administrative load on transport managers is genuinely heavy. The DVSA's Earned Recognition standards set a clear benchmark for what structured, auditable compliance looks like, and the expectation is that operators can demonstrate consistent processes, not just pass a test on the day.

Staying on top of it doesn't require a massive team, but it does require good systems. Whether you're managing five trucks or fifty, having a clear digital trail of inspections, defect reports, and maintenance records makes a real difference when it counts — during a DVSA roadside check, an O-licence audit, or simply when something goes wrong and you need to show due diligence. TruckCheck is built specifically for this kind of day-to-day fleet compliance work, keeping everything in one place and reducing the chance of something slipping through.

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2025 is shaping up to be a year that separates operators who are on top of compliance from those who are playing catch-up. The rules are stricter, the costs are higher, and the pace of change isn't slowing down.

Try TruckCheck free or get in touch to see how it works — and take one thing off your plate.