Smart tachograph G2V2: hardware, driver card and fleet data

The tachograph is no longer the paper disc of the 1990s and not even the first-generation digital tachograph many operators know from heavy goods vehicles. The device that from 1 July 2026 must be installed on 2.5–3.5 t vans in international transport or cabotage is the second-generation smart tachograph (G2V2): a small connected on-board computer, with satellite positioning, DSRC communication with authorities and a standard interface for dialogue with fleet telematics.

For fleet managers used to simpler tachographs, the G2V2 is a step change. For those who never managed tachographs before, it is a tool that brings into the company a continuous flow of high-quality operational data. This article, the third in our cluster on the Mobility Package for vans, gets into the technical detail: what the G2V2 components are, how the driver card works, how to download and use the data, what common mistakes to avoid.

For the general picture of the obligation we refer to the pillar article Tachograph mandatory on vans from 1 July 2026; for the rules on driving times, posting and cabotage to the dedicated deep dive on driving times under the Mobility Package.

From paper disc to G2V2: three generations in thirty years

To understand the G2V2 it helps to recall its history, which explains many current regulatory constraints.

• Analogue tachograph (1970s–2006): waxed paper disc, mechanical trace of time and speed. Weak point: easily tampered with, data not integrable.
• First-generation digital tachograph (2006–2019): introduced by Regulation 3821/1985 and later by 165/2014. Driver smart card, vehicle internal memory, printed report. Weak point: no geolocation, no external communication.
• Smart tachograph, version 1 (G2V1, 2019–2023): mandatory on newly registered vehicles from 15 June 2019. It is the first of the second generation and adds GNSS and DSRC connectivity for roadside checks.
• Smart tachograph, version 2 (G2V2, from 21 August 2023): mandatory on vehicles registered from that date. It automatically records border crossings and the loading/unloading operations entered by the driver (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1228). This is the device required from 1 July 2026.

On heavy goods vehicles in international transport the retrofit came in two steps: analogue and digital tachographs had to be replaced with a G2V2 by 31 December 2024, G2V1 units by 19 August 2025 (Regulation (EU) 165/2014, Art. 3(4) and (4a)). For 2.5–3.5 t vans the introduction is “all at once” on 1 July 2026, with no transitional phase.

G2V2 hardware components

A G2V2 is a system made of four main elements, certified under Regulation (EU) 165/2014 and the related implementing acts.

Vehicle Unit (VU)

The “computer” of the system, typically mounted in the dashboard. It contains the CPU, mass memory (capable of holding one year of activity), the cryptographic module for digital signature of data, the interfaces toward the motion sensor, the tachograph cards, the GNSS receiver, the DSRC module and the ITS interface. It has an internal clock synchronised with the satellite signal.

Motion sensor

A sealed component fitted on the gearbox or on the drivetrain. It transmits to the VU an encrypted signal with the vehicle’s instantaneous speed. The cryptographic signal is the defence against tampering: attempts to replace or jam the sensor are detected as anomalies and recorded.

GNSS module

Receives positioning data from multiple satellite systems (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS). The G2V2 records vehicle position at shift start and end, every 3 hours of cumulative driving and at every border crossing. For those running predictive logistics, these are high-quality structured waypoints, synchronised with driver activity.

DSRC communication

Dedicated Short-Range Communication: a 5.8 GHz short-range radio that allows authorities to query the VU from outside, without stopping the vehicle. Patrols equipped with the proper reader can download a snapshot of recent driver activity and identify the vehicles with anomalies to stop for in-depth checks.

ITS interface

A standardised interface that allows third-party telematics—the company’s fleet management software—to read tachograph data. The standard is Bluetooth (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/799, Annex IC, Appendix 13), and the same data can also flow through other tachograph interfaces such as the CAN bus. For the first time, the tachograph data flow is accessible in a standardised way and with the driver’s explicit consent, also thanks to the EU Data Act.

The four tachograph cards

The tachograph system rests on four smart card types, regulated by Regulation (EU) 165/2014. Each card has a distinct colour and role.

For the fleet manager the two relevant ones are driver and company. The workshop card concerns only authorised technicians; the control card is held by enforcement authorities.

Driver card: who needs it, how to obtain it

Every driver operating a vehicle subject to Regulation 561/2006 must have their own driver card, personal and non-transferable. The card:

• Is inserted in the VU at shift start and removed at shift end (or when switching vehicle).
• Records all driver activities (driving, other work, availability, rest), regardless of the vehicle.
• Holds 56 days of activity if it is a G2V2 card and 28 if it is a first-version G2 card (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/799, Annex IC, requirement 292). Beyond that limit the oldest data are overwritten.

How to apply in Italy:

• Application to the Chamber of Commerce of the driver’s province of residence, in person, via certified email or via the TACI online service.
• Requirements: valid driving licence and Italian residence.
• Indicative cost: €40.17 (€37 fees + €3.17 postage).
• Issuance time: 30 days for first cards, 15 days for renewals.

In case of loss or malfunction, a duplicate procedure (replacement card) is handled by the Chamber of Commerce. The fleet manager should document it in the HR operating instructions: a driver stopped for 15 days waiting for a card is a significant hidden cost.

Company card: who needs it, how to use it

The company card is issued to the operator and is the instrument that enables data download from the VU and the block/unblock of the vehicle for a specific company. Without a company card inserted, the vehicle records activity but the company cannot read the data or set administrative parameters.

Operationally, you need at least two company cards in the company (one as backup), held by the fleet manager or by the external advisor who handles tachograph downloads. The company card is also the access key to data “blocked” by other companies that used the vehicle in the past (e.g. rental vehicles).

Company card cost: similar to the driver card, around €37. Validity: 5 years.

How to download data: three modes

Annex IC of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/799, which implements Regulation 165/2014, mandates periodic downloading of tachograph data (requirement 196a):

• Driver card: within 28 days of the last record.
• Vehicle VU: within 90 days of the last download.

Downloaded data must be kept for at least 1 year in secure storage accessible to enforcement authorities. There are three download modes, with different levels of automation. For SME fleets from 5 to 100 vehicles we have a dedicated operational playbook covering roles, automation, archiving, GDPR and the EU Data Act: G2V2 tachograph data download — the playbook for SME fleets.

1. Manual download from the tachograph connector

The “traditional” mode for first-generation digital tachographs and G2V1. A download device (download key) is connected to the tachograph interface on the vehicle, the company card is inserted and the standard .ddd file is copied. Slow, manual, error-prone if files are collected by hand.

2. ITS interface download (Bluetooth)

The G2V2 exposes tachograph data via a standardised ITS interface. A telematics device installed on the vehicle (or, on newer trucks, the OEM’s integrated interface) reads the data in real time and transmits it over cellular networks to the vendor’s cloud. It is the most scalable mode for fleets with more than a handful of vehicles and the one that opens up to next-generation integrated telematics.

3. Remote reading via DSRC, for authorities only

More than an operational download mode for the company, it is the channel used by authorities for remote checks. Patrols equipped with a DSRC reader can query the VU from outside without stopping the vehicle, but they do not download days of activity. They receive a data package that the VU refreshes every 60 seconds, with the anomalies of the last 10 days, current driving times (continuous, daily, weekly and fortnightly), speed and the dates of the latest calibrations (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/799, Annex IC, requirements 197-199 and Appendix 14). It is used to decide which vehicle to stop, and on its own it cannot trigger a penalty (Regulation (EU) 165/2014, Art. 9(8)). For the company it does not replace periodic downloads, but it is the engine of the increased effectiveness of enforcement announced with the Mobility Package.

What the G2V2 actually measures

G2V2 raw data is the richest operational stream ever available for an LCV fleet. In short, for each vehicle and each driver:

• Driving events: start, end, duration of each continuous driving period, with GNSS references at departure and arrival.
• Break and rest events: duration, classification (break, reduced daily rest, regular), location.
• Other work: loading/unloading time, waiting, manoeuvring.
• Instantaneous speed: sampled at the second, kept for 24 hours.
• Border crossings: automatically recorded by GNSS and tagged with ISO country code.
• Loading/unloading operations: declared by the driver through a dedicated menu on the VU.
• Anomalies and technical events: malfunctions, tampering detected, GNSS signal loss, motion sensor manipulation.

For those used to fragmented GPS data and rough driving-time estimates, it is a quality leap. These data feed directly the fleet KPI calculation, the Scope 1 CSRD reporting and the automated planning flows.

Integration with fleet management software

The standardised ITS interface is the contact point between the G2V2 and fleet management software. Modern platforms make it possible to:

• Automatically import tachograph data via API or periodic .ddd files, removing the manual procedure.
• Visualise driver status in real time (driving, on break, resting, available) on the map.
• Compute residual driving hours in real time for the day, week and fortnight.
• Automatically block new route planning if the driver does not have enough residual rest, avoiding Regulation 561 breaches.
• Generate compliance reports for internal audits and inspections.
• Export data in standard formats for the accountant or labour advisor.

For anyone evaluating planning solutions, native G2V2 data integration is now a must. The ROI calculation of a fleet management with these capabilities adds up not just the savings on optimised kilometres, but also the savings on manual compliance costs (advisors, HR hours for card management, USB downloads).

Common mistakes and troubleshooting

Based on enforcement inspections, the five most common errors in tachograph use are:

Mis-categorisation of “other work”

The driver leaves the card inserted but forgets to manually select “other work” during loading/unloading, staying on “availability”. Effect: the system does not know they were working and times look distorted. Fix: targeted training and reinforced internal procedures.

Breaks below 45 minutes

The system counts a break as valid only if it is at least 15 + 30 consecutive minutes (in that order). “Creatively” split breaks do not count. Fix: an alert in the planning software that notifies the driver when the break does not meet the requirements.

Forgotten or lost card

The driver leaves without the card or loses it during the shift. The vehicle can be driven without a card only in limited cases (within 15 days, with a mission start printout). Fix: HR procedure for fast duplicate and a backup kit in the operations office.

Attempted tampering

Typically GNSS signal blocking with a jammer or attempting to disconnect the motion sensor. The G2V2 detects both events and records them as anomalies. In Italy the fine ranges from €1,732 to €6,928, with licence suspension. Fix: do not do it.

Skipped periodic downloads

The download deadlines are 28 days for the card and 90 for the VU, and the card leaves little margin: first-version G2 cards hold 28 days of activity, G2V2 cards 56, and then the oldest data are overwritten. The VU holds at least 365 days, but its download deadline is still 90 days. Fix: automate downloads via ITS interface and fleet management software.

Bottom line

• The G2V2 is a small on-board computer: VU + motion sensor + GNSS + DSRC + ITS.
• The four cards (driver, company, workshop, control) have distinct roles and validities.
• The driver card is personal, costs ~€40 and is issued in 30 days by the Chamber of Commerce.
• Data must be downloaded within 28/90 days (card/VU) and kept for at least one year.
• The ITS interface opens the G2V2 to fleet management: from manual .ddd archiving to a continuous flow of compliance KPIs.
• Five common errors: activity categorisation, split breaks, forgotten card, tampering, skipped downloads. All manageable with proper procedures and software.

For the full operational roadmap and the 8-week checklist, download our Mobility Package 2026 Compliance Checklist. To see how Optivo integrates G2V2 data into automated planning flows, book a demo.

In the glossary: Smart tachograph G2V2 · Tachograph card