Brussels,

Drivers

MOBILITY & TRANSPORT

The EU Mobility Package I is a comprehensive collection of legislative initiatives aimed at modernizing the road transport sector across the European Union. This package, adopted in July 2020, is designed to streamline regulations, enhance enforcement related to working conditions and operations in road transport, and ultimately make the sector safer, more efficient, and socially responsible.
Key elements of the Mobility Package I include:
  1. Driving and Rest Times: The package sets specific requirements for regular weekly rest periods, ensuring they are not taken in a vehicle and must be spent in suitable accommodation, with any associated costs covered by employers. Furthermore, drivers are required to return to their home country or their employer's country at least once every four weeks.
  2. Posting of Drivers: It establishes rules for when transport companies post drivers to work in another EU country. The working conditions of the posted drivers must comply with those of the host country.
  3. Cabotage Rules: The package continues to allow a maximum of three operations in seven days but introduces a "cooling off" period, requiring trucks to stay outside the cabotage host country for four days before operating with the same vehicle in that country again.
  4. Access to the Market: Vehicles must return to their usual operational center in the EU member state of their employer at least once every eight weeks.
  5. Tachographs: The introduction of new “smart” tachographs for light commercial vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tons is mandated to track border crossings, on and off-loading activities, and driving and rest periods.