UK HGV Hours and Tachograph Rules: What Operators Must Know in 2025

If you run HGVs in the UK, 2025 has brought some of the most significant changes to drivers' hours and tachograph rules in years. The Drivers' Hours and Tachographs (Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 21 April 2025, have reshaped several key requirements — particularly for operators running international routes. Whether you're a transport manager keeping your licence clean, or a driver trying to stay on the right side of a DVSA roadside check, here's everything you need to know right now.

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The Big Change: 56-Day Record-Keeping for International Drivers

This is the one that's catching operators off guard. As of 21 April 2025, any HGV driver involved in international journeys must carry and be able to produce 56 days of tachograph records — that's the current day plus the previous 56. Previously, drivers only needed to carry 28 days' worth.

This applies across the board: digital tachograph data, analogue charts, and manual records all count. If a driver is stopped at the roadside or a port and can't produce the full 56 days, that's a compliance failure — and the penalties aren't trivial (more on that below).

For operators, this means your record retrieval and storage processes need to be watertight. If you're still relying on paper-based systems or manually downloading tachograph data infrequently, the risk of gaps in your records has just doubled. Fleet software that automates data downloads and keeps records readily accessible isn't a luxury at this point — it's basic risk management. Tools like TruckCheck are built around exactly this kind of day-to-day record management, so it's worth making sure your system can handle the new 56-day window without extra manual effort.

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International vs. Domestic: Understanding the Split

One of the most important things to grasp in 2025 is that UK domestic rules and international rules are now clearly on different tracks.

Domestic UK Driving Rules (Unchanged)

If your drivers are operating solely within the UK, the rules remain the same:

• Daily driving limit: 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours a maximum of twice per week
• Weekly limit: 56 hours
• Fortnightly limit: 90 hours across any two consecutive weeks
• Breaks: 45 minutes after every 4.5 hours of driving (can be split into a 15-minute break followed by a 30-minute break)

The DVSA has flagged that enforcement focus in 2025 includes closer scrutiny of fortnightly totals and extended driving days during roadside inspections, so don't assume domestic operations are low risk.

International Operations: AETR Now Applies

For international trips, the UK has moved away from retained EU rules and now operates under AETR (European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport) standards. The core driving limits are broadly similar, but the rest rules are stricter:

• Weekly rest: Drivers can no longer use "unforeseen circumstances" as a reason to interrupt weekly rest, and certain return-to-base exemptions that existed under old EU rules no longer apply.
• Reduced weekly rest: Only one reduced weekly rest period is permitted before a full weekly rest must be taken.

If your drivers are crossing into Europe regularly, make sure they — and your scheduling team — fully understand these rest restrictions. Getting this wrong doesn't just risk a fine; it can affect your operator licence and good repute.

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Smart Tachograph 2: The Deadline You Cannot Miss

The DVSA's enforcement focus on tachograph technology is ramping up, and there's a hard deadline on the horizon.

August 18, 2025: SMT2 Retrofit Deadline

Any HGV involved in international transport that is currently fitted with a Smart Tachograph 1 (SMT1) device must be retrofitted with a Smart Tachograph 2 (SMT2) by 18 August 2025. This is not a guideline — it's a legal requirement, and enforcement will follow.

SMT2 devices offer enhanced remote data communication and improved security features, which is precisely why regulators are pushing the upgrade. If your workshop or tachograph centre is already busy, book that retrofit now. August will come around fast.

July 1, 2026: Light Commercial Vehicles

Operators running light commercial vehicles (2.5–3.5 tonnes) on international "hire or reward" journeys also need to plan ahead. SMT2 devices must be fitted to these vehicles by 1 July 2026. That gives you time, but it's worth factoring into your maintenance and capex planning now.

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Driver CPC: National vs. International

The National Driver CPC introduced in late 2024 continues to shape training requirements in 2025, and the distinction matters depending on where your drivers operate.

• UK-only drivers can now access more flexible training options under the National Driver CPC, with greater freedom around course formats and lengths.
• International drivers must maintain the International Driver CPC, which still requires the full 35 hours of periodic training every five years, with specific requirements around individual course lengths.

If you have drivers doing both domestic and international work, tread carefully. Defaulting to National CPC training for a driver who crosses borders could leave you exposed. Keep records of which qualification each driver holds and map it against their actual routes.

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Enforcement and What It Costs You

The DVSA has made clear that compliance monitoring is tightening in 2025. At roadside checks, inspectors are specifically looking at fortnightly hour totals, extended driving days, and — now — whether international drivers are carrying the full 56 days of records.

The consequences of getting it wrong include:

• Fixed penalties: Generally £300 per infringement
• Vehicle immobilisation at the roadside
• Damage to operator licence and good repute — the kind of knock that affects your ability to win contracts and keep your O-licence

It's worth reminding yourself that the DVSA's Earned Recognition audit standards for HGV operators set out exactly what a well-run fleet compliance system should look like. If your processes wouldn't hold up to that standard, it's time to address the gaps.

TruckCheck helps operators stay on top of tachograph data, driver records, and compliance checks in one place — so when a DVSA inspector asks for documentation, you're not scrambling.

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Final Thoughts

The message from regulators in 2025 is clear: the bar is rising, especially for international operators. The shift to 56-day record-keeping, AETR rest rules, and the SMT2 retrofit deadline all require action — not just awareness. Domestic operators aren't off the hook either, with tighter scrutiny on weekly and fortnightly hours at roadside checks.

The best thing you can do is audit your current processes now, make sure your tachograph equipment is up to date, and ensure your drivers know what's changed.

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