Just 10 kilograms is all it takes to legally beat the system!

Will 1 July 2026 bring a revolution for the transport sector? That is when the new provisions of the Mobility Package come into force, requiring the fitment of tachographs in vehicles with a GVW of between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes in international transport. Brussels wanted to bring order to the market for popular "vans", but hauliers have already found a clever loophole to slip through the net.

The principle is straightforward: if a vehicle has a GVW of up to 2.5 tonnes, no tachograph is required. The market responded to these changes instantly, introducing designs with a mass of precisely 2,490 kg.

What do such "clever" vehicles offer in order to survive in international transport?

• Cargo capacity: 4, or even 5 Euro pallets thanks to special bodywork.
• Payload: Declared values of approximately 900 kg.
• Engineering: A solid base with twin rear tyres and rear-wheel drive.
• Overnight accommodation: The possibility of fitting so-called "sleeping pods", where bunks measure between 172 and just under 200 cm in length.

A perfect example of this strategy is the new Piaggio Porter NP6. This model, homologated at 2.49 tonnes, was designed specifically to operate on long-haul routes while remaining entirely outside the scope of drivers' hours regulations.

However, experts are noting a worrying trend: instead of improvements in safety and ergonomics, we are getting vehicles built "to the rule". Although such vehicles will not replace conventional vans on every route, they are a clear signal that the market has no intention of waiting passively for regulations. Driver comfort takes a back seat, yielding to the battle to circumvent the tachograph requirement.