HOW CROSS-BORDER VAN FLEETS CAN MANAGE TACHOGRAPH COMPLIANCE REMOTELY

A new chapter in European tachograph compliance has officially begun. From 1 July 2026, light commercial vehicles used in international transport across the EU with a permissible maximum mass exceeding 2.5 tonnes must comply with tachograph requirements that were previously associated mainly with trucks and buses.

This means that vans operating internationally must be equipped with Smart Tachograph Version 2, follow EU driving and rest time rules, regularly download tachograph files, store them for at least one year, and provide them to authorities upon request.

According to ACEA, there are around 38 million vans on European roads across the EU, EFTA, and the UK. Based on Teltonika’s estimates, around 800,000 vans may require tachograph installation. Many of these fleet managers have never managed tachograph processes, driver rest rules, or compliance audits before and have had to prepare for the new requirements from the ground up, as explained in our article on tachograph rules for vans from July 2026.

Non-compliance can become expensive very quickly, with penalties reaching thousands of euros depending on the country and type of violation. More importantly, missing data or exceeded driving hours can lead to roadside inspections, delivery delays, and operational disruptions.

To help fleet operators address tachograph requirements effectively for LCVs, Teltonika has developed tachograph management functionality available for FMx150 devices and hosted a dedicated webinar in English.

As the regulation also affects commercial vehicles coming to the EU from countries under the European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR), we also hosted a webinar session in the Ukrainian language.

HOW TO AVOID TACHOGRAPH FINES AND COMPLIANCE RISKS

The business model of cross-border van fleets typically connects the sender and the receiver directly without depots or hubs. This makes manual tachograph file downloads difficult to manage, especially when vehicles operate continuously across borders.

FMx150 trackers enable automated remote tachograph workflows for light commercial vehicles by supporting both live tachograph data and remote file download. Remote download is managed through TachoSync or compatible fleet management platforms.

TachoSync automates driver card and vehicle unit file downloads based on the fleet owner’s schedule, handles company card authorisation, stores files securely in the cloud, and provides dashboards and notifications. This helps reduce missed downloads, manual work, and compliance risks.

To learn more about the tachograph solution for vans used in international transport, we encourage you to watch the webinar recordings provided above or read our use case.

WHY FMx150 IS THE PERFECT FIT FOR VANS OPERATING INTERNATIONALLY

For light commercial vehicle fleets, tachograph compliance requires more than just hardware with tachograph support. Integrators need fast deployment, broad vehicle compatibility, and automated workflows to keep tachograph data under control.

FMx150 trackers are designed for efficient rollout in vans. Their compact size allows easy installation behind the dashboard, while internal GNSS and LTE antennas reduce wiring complexity. The Autoscan feature helps detect vehicle model and apply the required CAN configuration automatically, while installation guides are available for supported vehicle models to simplify work for installers.

Our devices support most popular van models across Europe and provide access to more than 100 CAN parameters. You can explore Teltonika Wiki page to find all supported vehicle models and parameters, which are used to build additional fleet management solutions beyond compliance, such as fuel monitoring, driver behaviour analysis, proactive maintenance, and safety and security.

If FMx150 devices are already installed in vans operating internationally, there is no need to replace them with new FMx150 trackers that have factory-installed tachograph management functionality. It can be enabled remotely through a paid device upgrade, allowing the installed devices to support tachograph. However, the trackers will still need to be re-installed and properly connected to the tachograph according to the installation guide, and the required tachograph configuration must be completed.

Q&A

At the end of each of our webinars, we host a live Q&A session. Below, you will find some of the participants’ questions along with answers from Robertas Armonaitis, CAN portfolio product owner at Teltonika’s telematics division.

HOW CAN TACHOGRAPH MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONALITY BE ENABLED ON FMx150 DEVICES?

There are two options. New FMx150 devices can be ordered with tachograph management functionality already enabled at the factory. For devices that are already installed or in stock, the functionality can be activated through a paid remote upgrade. To request activation, you should provide the device IMEI numbers to your Teltonika sales manager.

IS TACHOGRAPH MANAGEMENT SOLUTION IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME WAY ON FMx150 TRACKERS AS IT IS ON FMx650 MODELS?

Remote .DDD file download and live tachograph parameters are available on both FMx650 and FMx150 devices. They support VDO, Stoneridge, and EFAS tachographs, while FMx650 trackers additionally include K-Line interface for tachograph’s D8 connection or front panel reading with VDO tachographs.

WHAT IF THE VEHICLE INSTALLATION SCHEME SHOWS THAT TWO CAN LINES ARE REQUIRED FOR A TACHOGRAPH USE CASE?

FMx150 trackers have two CAN lines. For tachograph data, one CAN line should be connected according to the dedicated Teltonika Wiki instructions. The second CAN line may then be used for vehicle CAN data. If the vehicle’s CAN parameters are available through two different CAN lines, check the supported vehicle and parameter table to see which parameters are available on each line. Then select the CAN line that provides the most important data for your project.

CAN FMx150 DEVICES BE USED TO DOWNLOAD TACHOGRAPH DATA FROM TRUCKS?

Yes, FMx150 trackers can be used for truck tachograph data download. However, the full use case should be evaluated first, especially if additional sensors or interfaces are required, such as a fuel level sensor via RS232 or K-Line. FMx650 devices are recommended for heavy fleet management scenarios requiring additional features such as FMS eco driving, Trailer CAN, and DTC reading.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF INSTALLING FMx150 DEVICES IN A LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSTEAD OF FMx650 MODELS WITH LV-CAN200?

FMx150 trackers are a more cost-effective option when CAN data and tachograph support are required for vans. Compared to FMx650 device installation with LV-CAN200, FMx150 trackers reduce adapter setup complexity, making deployment easier in light commercial vehicles.

WHERE CAN VEHICLE INSTALLATION GUIDES BE FOUND?

We have 2,200+ vehicle models supported in FMx150 database with installation guides. For dedicated installation guides, please address your Teltonika sales manager or contact us via the form.

DO FMx150 DEVICES NEED TO BE CONFIGURED BASED ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, OR DOES IT WORK AUTOMATICALLY?

FMx150 trackers simplify the configuration for specific vehicle models with Autoscan. After connection, the device detects vehicle CAN data, communicates with the server, and receives the correct configuration automatically in under 60 seconds. However, Autoscan does not configure tachograph functionality automatically. Tachograph configuration still needs to be completed manually according to the configuration guide.

HOW ARE SIMULTANEOUS DOWNLOADS HANDLED IN TACHOSYNC USING A SINGLE COMPANY CARD? HOW MANY CARDS ARE NEEDED FOR 100 VEHICLES?

Fleet managers can use several company cards connected to the system simultaneously. When authorisation is required, the system uses an available card. As a general guideline, one company card can support up to 100 vehicles.

ARE ASELSAN TACHOGRAPHS SUPPORTED?

FMx150 trackers have not yet been tested with Aselsan tachographs. However, if you have a project that requires support for Aselsan tachographs, please contact your Teltonika sales manager or reach out to us through the contact form. Our team will evaluate the case and check how we can support the required tachograph integration.