New EU Rules Force German Firms to Digitize Safety Documents and Install Smart Tacho 2 in Light Vans
02.07.2026 - 06:25:10 | boerse-global.de
Businesses operating aerial work platforms and light commercial vehicles in Germany have been hit with a dual compliance overhaul since July 1, 2026. At the centre of the changes are mandatory digital certificates for platform operators and the extension of tachograph requirements to vans exceeding 2.5 tonnes in cross-border goods transport.
The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) now issues certificates for mobile elevating work platforms exclusively in digital format. The switch, effective from the start of July, aims to make credential management more efficient and harder to forge. Industry observers say the move aligns with a broader push toward tamper?proof safety documentation across Europe.
Simultaneously, the EU Mobility Package has tightened recording obligations for light commercial vehicles. Any truck or van with a permissible gross weight above 2.5 tonnes that crosses internal EU borders must now be fitted with the second?generation digital tachograph — the Smart Tacho 2. This catches many smaller vehicles that transport compact work platforms or materials, a category previously exempt from such strict logging.
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Telematics provider Geotab advises companies to implement centralised systems for capturing vehicle and movement data. According to Geotab’s experts, this approach ensures that statutory rest periods are documented without gaps.
To help firms adapt, LapID has expanded its digital training portfolio with modules specifically covering driving and rest time rules, plus operation of the new tachograph generation. “Clear structures are essential for business compliance,” said Jörg Schnermann, CEO of LapID.
The compliance push is also producing financial incentives. Equipment supplier Cramer Arbeitsbühnen is offering a ten?percent discount on all training and instruction courses since the beginning of July. The goal is to keep certification rates high among employees as regulatory requirements become more stringent.
Beyond transport law, integrated safety concepts are gaining ground. The KRAUSE?Werk has bundled its activities under the brand “KRAUSE 360° competence” since late June. The concept combines product quality, consultancy, and digital tools such as a web app for managing work equipment. Training for “competent persons” runs through its own academy, with on?site examinations.
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Other players are also upgrading their qualifications. In July, the IBB Institut für Berufliche Bildung was named the most innovative provider in its sector by Germany Test and Focus. Meanwhile, the VdS association launched an AI?competence training programme on July 1, addressing requirements of the EU AI Act and teaching employees how to use artificial intelligence safely.
