Weight loophole: vans at 2,490 kg sidestep the tachograph requirement

From 1 July 2026, the Mobility Package rules take effect, requiring tachographs in vehicles with a GVW of 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes used in international transport. Brussels wanted to bring order to the popular van market, but hauliers have already found a loophole to avoid being checked.

How the loophole works

The rule is simple: if a vehicle has a GVW of up to 2.5 tonnes, no tachograph is required. The market reacted quickly, introducing designs weighing exactly 2,490 kg.

What do such vehicles offer to make them viable in international transport?

• Capacity: 4 or even 5 euro pallets thanks to specialist bodies.
• Payload: the declared figure is around 900 kg.
• Engineering: a sturdy base with twin rear wheels and rear-wheel drive.
• Sleeping space: sleeper boxes can be fitted above the cab, with bunks between 172 and just under 200 cm long.

Case in point: Piaggio Porter NP6

A good example of this strategy is the new Piaggio Porter NP6. The model, homologated at 2.49 tonnes, was designed for long routes while remaining outside the drivers' working time rules.

Experts point to a worrying trend: instead of better safety and ergonomics, we are getting vehicles built 'to fit the regulation'. Such vehicles will not replace conventional vans on every route, but they show that the market has no intention of waiting passively for regulation. Driver comfort takes a back seat, and what counts is avoiding the tachograph.