IRU publish information on Smart Tacho Two grace periods in EU member states

As explained by the IRU, the Smart tachograph version 2 (SMT2) is the new generation of on-board digital recorder to enforce the EU legislation on professional drivers driving and resting times, cabotage and posting of drivers rules.

From 21 August 2023, newly registered commercial vehicles must be equipped with the SMT2.

However, due to material delays in the availability of the new SMT2 devices, a great number of new trucks and coaches cannot be equipped with SMT2 on time.

As a result, individual EU Member States have started introducing temporary tolerance periods for the registration and use of new vehicles temporarily equipped with SMT1.

To help road transport companies know what the score is in various countries, the IRU has produced the table below, which was shared by the Road Haulage Association on Wednesday.

We have embedded the aforementioned table below for the benefit of our readers:

Country	Temporary allowing registration of new vehicles equipped with SMT1 after 21/08/23	Immunity for sanctions on transport operators using vehicles registered after 21/08/23, which are equipped with SMT1	Conditions attached to the exemption	Additional information
Austria	Yes, until 31/05/2024 only for domestic use.	N/A	Retrofit mandatory by 01/06/2024.	Available here.
France	Yes, within a limited timeframe set with competent authorities.	N/A	Retrofit with SMT2 mandatory within: 4 months for new vehicles sold as complete 6 months for vehicles sold as incomplete (multi stage) .	Available here.
Germany	Yes, until 31/12/2023.	Yes, until 31/12/2023 irrespective of transport operator’s nationality/vehicle’s country of registration.	Retrofit with SMT2 of registered vehicle mandatory latest 24 months after first registration.	Available here and here.
Ireland	Yes, until 30/09/2023 only for domestic use.	Yes, until 30/09/2023 only for domestic use.	New vehicles carrying international operations (including between Ireland and Northern Ireland). Should be fitted of SMT2 from 21/08/2023, while other vehicles must be retrofitted by 30/09/2023.
Italy	Yes, until 30/09/2023, expressly based  based on European Commission’s recommendation.	Not mentioned in Government letter to police.	N/A	Available here.
Netherlands	No.	N/A	Retrofit with SMT2 mandatory from 21/08/2023.
Norway	N/A	Yes, until 30/09/2023 irrespective of transport operator’s nationality / vehicle’s country of registration.	To be completed.	To be completed.
Spain	Yes, until 31/12/2023.	Yes, until 31/12/2023.	To be completed.	To be completed.
Sweden	Yes, until 31/04/2024.	Yes, until 31/01/2024, irrespective of transport operator’s nationality / vehicle’s country of registration	Retrofit with SMT2 mandatory until	Available here.