Ukraine is transitioning to European standards for the work and rest of commercial vehicle drivers. The Ministry of Communities and Territories Development has approved new rules that will come into force on July 26, 2026. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Development, writes UNN.
What is simplified
Requirements for tachographs and working hours do not apply to:
- transport of Security and Defense Forces, emergency and rescue services;
- agricultural, communal, postal, and certain specialized transportation within 100 km;
- vehicles up to 7.5 tons within a 100 km radius for transporting own cargo (provided that driving is not the main activity);
- training and low-speed vehicles;
- transportation in combat zones.
What remains unchanged
- clear driving and rest norms (9 hours/day, 56 hours/week, break after 4.5 hours);
- mandatory use of working tachographs for transportation covered by the requirements.
What's new
- the rules apply not only to full-time drivers but also to individual entrepreneurs and drivers under civil law contracts, including those performing international passenger transportation on demand or international taxi transportation;
- prohibition of taking regular weekly rest in the cabin – it must be provided in proper conditions at the carrier's expense;
- night shift (22:00–06:00) – can last no more than 10 hours; it is important to distinguish between the concepts of “working shift” and “driving time” here;
- for international transportation by trucks registered after June 30, 2026 – mandatory G2V2 smart tachographs;
- the storage period for records has been increased: the driver must have data for the current day and the last 56 days, the company must store them for 2 years.
When the rules come into force
The new rules become mandatory 6 months after official publication — from July 26, 2026. This gives businesses and drivers time to adapt.