Gosuncn RichLink GT118: Tachograph Compliance for Commercial Fleets

Gosuncn RichLink has launched its new GT118 professional heavy-duty fleet management telematics terminal for the European commercial vehicle market, to tackle key pain points brought by tightening EU Tachograph regulations. Cross-border freight fleets are facing mounting pressure around driving time monitoring, data archiving and audit traceability. Supporting remote download of original tachograph files, the GT118 integrates vehicle bus data collection, fused positioning and intelligent driving behaviour analytics. It delivers an all‑in‑one compliance solution for European telematics service providers and heavy‑duty fleets — meeting mandatory regulatory requirements while enabling fleets to shift toward digitalised, refined operations.

Expanding EU Tachograph Rules Fuel Demand for Remote Compliance

The EU tachograph regulatory framework is established under Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 and Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 (EUR-Lex, European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport). Its core objective is to regulate driving hours and prevent fatigue driving. Tachographs are mandatory for freight vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger coaches carrying more than 9 occupants.

As regulation expands further, second-generation Smart Tachograph V2 will become compulsory from 1 July 2026 for light commercial vehicles of 2.5–3.5 tonnes engaged in cross-border transport or cross-border drop shipments.

All newly registered heavy trucks have been factory-fitted with V2 tachographs since 21 August 2023; existing cross-border heavy trucks must complete upgrades by 18 August 2025.

Fleets are legally required to regularly retrieve original tachograph files, retain data for a minimum of 56 days, and produce records promptly for roadside inspections. The V2 version adds logging for cross-border transit and loading/unloading locations, plus GNSS spoofing resistance. It also imposes stricter standards on connected terminals for data interaction, encrypted transmission and tamper alerts. Traditional manual on-board card reading is labour-intensive, prone to missed downloads and may result in heavy fines for non-compliance.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, around 6.2 million trucks operated on EU roads in 2024. The inclusion of cross-border light commercial vehicles under regulation from 2026 expands the compliance fleet pool, bringing millions more commercial vehicles into scope. This drives rising market demand for retrofit terminals supporting remote tachograph readout and CAN bus data capture. European telematics service providers need easily integrable, customisable hardware to build their own fleet management platforms.

GT118: Heavy-Duty Fleet Terminal Built for European Tachograph Compliance

The GT118 is a professional on-board management terminal designed for heavy commercial vehicles. Equipped with dual CAN-FD ports, K-line, RS232, RS485, 1-Wire, multi-channel I/O and built‑in Bluetooth, it supports flexible connection to a wide range of on-board sensors and peripherals.

The terminal establishes a stable data link with the vehicle’s factory-fitted tachograph, enabling remote download of original records. Driver working hours, driving events and other data are uploaded to the cloud in real time for centralised storage, unified oversight and traceable analytics, helping European fleets operate in compliance.

Robust Core Capabilities: Reliable, Secure and User-Friendly

- Remote Tachograph File Download: Eliminates manual card collection on site, cuts compliance labour costs and reduces the risk of missing data captures.

- Vehicle Bus Data Collection: Supports J1939 / FMS protocols to read engine status, fuel consumption, fault codes and other vehicle parameters for full visibility of vehicle conditions.

- Position Tracking & Trip Management: High-performance GNSS chip with LBS fused positioning maintains continuous fixes in weak-signal areas such as tunnels and underground parking. It reports locations periodically and automatically generates trip logs and summaries.

- Low-Power Power Management: Recognises ignition status intelligently; sleep current <800 μA, protecting the vehicle battery from depletion during long standby periods.

- Tamper-Resistant Security Design: Built-in backup battery triggers instant alerts if the power cable is cut or unplugged maliciously to prevent regulatory evasion via power disconnection.

- End-to-End Data Security: Secure boot plus encrypted transmission safeguards sensitive data including tachograph driving hours and location information to meet European data security requirements.

- Intelligent Driving Behaviour Analysis: Automatically detects harsh acceleration, hard braking, sharp turns and other risky driving events to help fleets assess driver habits.

- Multi-Event Alerts: Real-time notifications for speeding, excessive idling, collision detection and other anomalies to identify operational risks rapidly.

- Geofencing Control: Unlimited geofences on the platform; up to 40 geofences stored locally on the terminal. Automatic alerts are triggered when vehicles enter or exit defined zones for loading bays, border crossings and yard management.

- Simplified Deployment: Local configuration via Config Tool for fast on-site commissioning. Two mounting options — adhesive backing and cable ties — enable straightforward retrofitting.

- Flexible Delivery Models: Available as standalone hardware, terminal plus platform SDK, or terminal plus white‑label operation platform. Custom software development is supported to match diverse integration requirements.

Three Core Benefits: Compliance, Cost Optimisation and Business Expansion

- Compliance: Natively interfaces with smart tachographs to retrieve and archive original files remotely. Compatible with J1939 / FMS heavy-duty bus standards, it satisfies data retention, audit and traceability rules and reduces fleets’ exposure to fines.

- Operational Efficiency: Enables refined fleet oversight with live vehicle monitoring, automated trip reporting and risky driving detection. Paired with anomaly alerts, it cuts accidents, fuel waste and abnormal vehicle wear to lower ongoing operating costs.

- Commercial Enablement: Flexible solution for TSP partners. Rich wired and Bluetooth expansion interfaces support easy peripheral integration. Multiple delivery options allow large customers to build proprietary platforms quickly using the hardware and SDK, or deploy white‑label platforms and customised software to deliver end‑to‑end fleet management services to freight clients.

The launch of the GT118 expands Gosuncn RichLink’s portfolio of aftermarket telematics products. Together with GT117, GT115 wired telematics terminals and the OBD product series, it forms a core product line targeting overseas commercial vehicle markets, covering HCVs, LCVs and a broader range of commercial vehicles. The company continues to deliver “fast-to-deploy, readily integrable, secure and reliable” commercial vehicle telematics connectivity solutions to empower partners to achieve refined digital fleet operations.

Rich Link to the Colorful World！

About Gosuncn RichLink(www.rich-link.com)：

Gosuncn RichLink Technology Co., Ltd., is an IoT subsidiary of GOSUNCN Group (300098), focusing on cellular IoT technology, providing Telematics products and Cellular IoT terminals. Through 10 years of technological accumulation and business expansion, the company continues to provide innovative solutions and applications for global MNOs, TSPs, as well as customers in industries such as transportation, logistics, and smart metering.