Amendments concerning exemptions to the use of a tachograph and tachograph charts open for comments

The Ministry of Transport and Communications has opened a proposed decree on exemptions to driving times and rest periods issued for heavy goods vehicle drivers and amendments to provisions on tachograph charts for comments.

The amendments would nationally implement the rights and possible exemptions based on the EU Mobility Package for road transport.

In the proposed decree, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) would be provided with the right to demand holders of tachograph charts to replace any damaged or misplaced charts with a new chart containing the information required. Tachograph charts are used in the monitoring of the driving times and rest periods of drivers, and in registrations, maintenance and official supervision.

In addition, the proposed decree proposes that Finland would use the national exemption to the obligation to use a tachograph as permitted by the EU Mobility Package for road transport. The national exemption would concern vehicles designed for the transport of ready-mix concrete.

Regulatory corrections would also be made to the Government decree regarding exemptions to the use of a tachograph in vehicles exclusively transporting cash and/or valuables and in vehicles used to transport live animals.

The EU Mobility Package for road transport was issued on 31 July 2020, and it consists of social and market regulations on road transport. The Mobility Package's new regulations on driving times, rest periods and tachographs entered into force in Finland on 20 August 2020, and their application will begin during 2022-2024, apart from driving times, rest periods and tachographs. Regulations on driving times and rest periods have been applicable since the regulations entered into force.

The Mobility Package aims to harmonise the regulation on EU's internal market in road transport, improve the working conditions of drivers and make enforcement more efficient.

What next?

The proposed Government decree on the use of tachographs was made open for comments on 7 April 2021. The consultation period will end on 4 May 2021.

Comments can be submitted online by all organisations and citizens at www.lausuntopalvelu.fi or by emailing [email protected].

Following the consultation round, the preparations of the decree will continue by Ministry officials. The amended decree is intended to enter into force on 21 May 2021.

Inquiries:

Veli-Matti Syrjänen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 470 7708

Elisa Vornanen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 511 6405

Mari Starck, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 478 1164