Pursuant to the amendment to the “Enforcement Decree of the Traffic Safety Act,” large freight trucks weighing 25 metric tons or more and towed special-purpose vehicles weighing 10 metric tons or moreare now required to submit DTG trip records on a monthly basis. This obligation, which previously applied only to certain vehicles such as route buses, has been expanded to include the freight truck sector. (Enforcement Decree, Article 45, Paragraph 4; effective October 10, 2024)
Although some time has passed since the regulation took effect, the submission rate remains low. According to data released by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority in June 2025, out of 251,324 freight trucks equipped with DTGs, only 26.8% (67,453 vehicles) actually submitted their operating records. This means that three out of every four trucks are simply accumulating data without submitting it. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has continued to send official notices to freight transport associations urging them to strengthen education and outreach for transport companies, and has also expanded the operation of driving record inspection centers. The trend toward intensified inspections and strengthened guidance and supervision is now in full swing.
This article answers five questions that companies operating heavy-duty trucks frequently encounter.
The overall structure of DTG requirements (installation, storage, submission, utilization, fines, and the Korea Transport Safety Authority’s analysis reports) is coveredin the comprehensive guide to mandatory DTG tachographs at . This article focuses specificallyon the monthly submission requirements for large freight trucks, as detailed at .
Vehicles that meet all three of the following conditions are subject to the mandatory monthly submission requirement.
| Conditions | Criteria | Our Company |
|---|---|---|
| ① Vehicle | Large freight trucks with a maximum load capacity of 25 metric tons or more, or towed special-purpose vehicles (such as tractors) with a gross vehicle weight of 10 metric tons or more | ⬜ |
| ② Operator | A freight truck transportation operator or a franchise transportation operator as defined by the “Freight Truck Transportation Business Act” | ⬜ |
| ③ Operational Status | Vehicles currently in operation (vehicles that have been out of service for an extended period or are scheduled for sale may be temporarily excluded depending on the circumstances) | ⬜ |
If all three criteria are “Yes,” you are subject to this requirement. There is no distinction between sole proprietors and corporations.
What about 18-metric-ton and 22-metric-ton vehicles? The new mandatory requirement applies to vehicles weighing 25 metric tons or more. However, since the obligation to install a DTG and the 6-month data retention requirement apply to all commercial vehicles, you must submit the data upon inspection or request.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What | Operating data automatically recorded by the DTG (speed, RPM, braking, GPS, heading, acceleration, mileage, accident details) |
| Where | Korea Transportation Safety Authority’s Driving Record Analysis System (eTAS) |
| When | Submitted monthly (Article 45, Paragraph 4 of the Enforcement Decree of the Traffic Safety Act). Check the eTAS announcements for monthly deadlines |
| How | For the “Communication-type” and “Distribution-type” models, data is transmitted automatically; for the “General-type” model, data is extracted via USB or SD card and either uploaded directly or submitted to an inspection center or authorized service provider |
| DTG Type | Monthly Tasks | Risk of Omission |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Type | At the end of the month, retrieve SD cards and USB drives from each vehicle → Log in to eTAS → Upload → Confirm submission is complete | High (must be repeated for each vehicle) |
| Basic Plan | Check once a month to ensure the driver’s mobile app is running and that a transmission history is recorded | Medium (Disconnections occur if the app isn’t installed or the phone is replaced) |
| Communication-based | Check only the automatic submission history in eTAS once a month | Low |
Although the submission is reviewed by the agency, the company must review it first.
Failure to submit, install, or ensure the proper functioning of driving records is subject to a fine (up to 5 million won) under Article 65 of the “Traffic Safety Act.” Furthermore, if driving records are missing in the event of an accident, the evidence needed to prove compliance with safety management obligations—as required bythe “Act on the Punishment of Serious Accidents” ( ) andthe “Act on the Punishment of Serious Accidents” ( )—will also be lost.
There are three types of DTGs on the market, and their ability to submit data automatically varies. This is the point that causes the most confusion for operators.
| Type | Automatic Submission | Communication Fees | How to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Model | Available (mobile app) | Not available (driver’s mobile data) | List of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport-Certified Entry-Level Products |
| Communication-Enabled | Available (built-in communication module) | Monthly data charges apply | Product Specifications and Supplier |
| Standard Model | Not available | None | If it uses manual extraction, it’s the Standard Model |
| Options | Cost (based on association guidelines) | If applicable |
|---|---|---|
| Replace with the Basic Model | Free if connected directly to the OBD port; 55,000 won (including VAT) if wired | For fleets of 5 or more vehicles, or when you want to save on communication fees |
| Replacement with a communication-enabled model | Device cost + monthly service fee | When relying on the driver’s cell phone is difficult, or when using monitoring and safety features together |
| Service Center or Third-Party Outsourcing | Free–Service Fee | For a small number of eligible vehicles and as a temporary measure prior to replacement |
The General Insurance Association and the Korea Transport Safety Authority have also held campaigns to support owners of manual DTG trucks by providing automatic submission DTG systems (February–March 2026; 257 participants recruited). Keeping an eye on the Korea Transport Safety Authority’s announcements can help you save on replacement costs. The connected DTG (with daily automatic submission), which will be required for new commercial vehicles starting in 2026, was covered in our comprehensive guide.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport statedthatthe purpose of establishing the submission requirement for large trucks was “to verify compliance with rest periods (a 15-minute break after 2 hours of driving) and to improve drivers’ dangerous driving habits.”The submitted records serve as the primary data for determining compliance with this regulation.
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Basic | After driving continuously for 2 hours without a rest period, take a break of at least 15 minutes |
| Exceptions (1-hour extension permitted) | ① When emergency transport capacity from another freight truck owned by the transport operator is required ② When an increase in emergency transport capacity is necessary due to natural disasters or emergencies ③ When it is impossible to take a break due to a traffic accident, vehicle breakdown, traffic congestion, etc. — After the extension, take a break of at least 30 minutes |
| Legal Basis | Article 12, Paragraph 2 of the “Freight Vehicle Transportation Business Act” and Article 22 of the Enforcement Rules of the same Act |
| Penalty for Violation | Administrative fine of 500,000 won (up to 2 million won depending on the type of violation) — Violation of compliance requirements for transportation operators |
Sisa IN obtained April 2022 DTG data for 59,296 freight trucks from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and analyzed 37,892 of them. The results showed that drivers in the top 5% by driving time drove 240.4 hours per month, 60.1 hours per week. In a survey accompanying the same report, 6% of respondents said they always adhered to the “15-minute rest after every 2 hours of driving” rule, while 70.9% saidthey rarely or never followed it.
What these numbers reveal is clear. Now that the monthly reporting requirement for heavy-duty trucks has gone into effect, any rest period violations that the company has overlooked will be identified by the agency as soon as the report is submitted.
If a schedule is impossible for an individual driver to follow, the records themselves become evidence against the company. Safety managers have three monthly tasks.
Starting February 1, 2026, the Safe Freight Rate System for trucks will be reinstated for import/export containers and cement (temporarily for three years until 2028). According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s announcement, the Safe Commissioned Freight Rates for truck owners have increased by 13.8% for containers and 16.8% for cement. Cases of underpayment will be reported to the Safe Freight Rate Reporting Center (safetruck.go.kr) and investigated jointly with local governments.
The Safe Freight Rate System is designed to “guarantee appropriate freight rates to prevent overwork, speeding, and overloading.” In the event of a freight rate dispute, drivers must prove the actual driving distance, time, and waiting time; DTG is a system that records this evidence down to the second.
According to an analysis of 2023 data by the American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI),detentionoccurredin 39.3% ofall loading and unloading operations( ), and the industry-wide productivity loss was estimated at$11.5 billion ( ), with direct costs totaling $3.6 billion. Although 94.5% of carriers charge detention fees, less than half actually collect them.
There is another key figure from this survey that safety managers should note. Trucks that experienced detention drove an average of 14.6% faster than those that did not. When detention times are long, drivers increase their speed to make up for lost time. Detention time is a cause of speeding even before it becomes a financial issue.
The EU requires truck drivers to take a break of at least 45 minutes after driving for 4 hours and 30 minutes (EU Regulation No. 561/2006) and has established an enforcement system that allows for the remote reading of tachograph data from the roadside. South Korea’s monthly submission system is just beginning to follow this trend.
In summary, the driving records of large trucks provide three types of evidence at once: proof that rest periods were observed, proof of how long the driver actually drove and waited, and proof of what happened immediately before an accident.
While the DTG records data, AI-based safe driving solutions focus on prevention. An integrated approach—which detects and alerts drivers in real time to behaviors such as drowsiness, failure to watch the road ahead, and cell phone use, while handling both DTG functions and eTAS automatic submission within a single device—is now being applied to the freight transportation industry. A.I.Matics’ “aid” operates on this principle; for more details, see“Truck Blind Spot Cameras vs. AI Detection” at .
Large trucks weighing 25 metric tons or more and special-purpose towing vehicles weighing 10 metric tons or more must submit their driving records to eTAS every month. First, confirm whether the vehicle is equipped with automatic submission; before submission, the company must review any stretches where continuous driving exceeded 2 hours. These records serve as evidence of rest periods, freight charges, and accidents all at once.
| No. | Inspection Items | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are you operating a large freight truck weighing 25 metric tons or more, or a special-purpose towing vehicle weighing 10 metric tons or more, as a licensed transportation operator? | ⬜ |
| 2 | Do you submit the driving records for these vehicles to eTAS ( ) at every month and verify that the submissions have been completed? | ⬜ |
| 3 | Have you verified whether your DTG isa model eligible for automatic submission via (entry-level or communication-enabled), and if it is a standard model, do you have a plan to replace it or use a third-party service? | ⬜ |
| 4 | Before submission, do you check for anysegmentswherecontinuous operation exceeds 2 hours on and compare them with the dispatch schedule? | ⬜ |
| 5 | For cases falling under exceptional circumstances (traffic congestion, vehicle breakdown, etc.), are yourecording the reason at ? | ⬜ |
If you answered “No” to even one of these questions, you need to review and take corrective action.
Get advice on how to submit DTG reports and manage rest periods
A. The new vehicles subject to the monthly submission requirement are large freight trucks with a maximum load capacity of 25 metric tons or more and towed special-purpose vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10 metric tons or more. Although 18-metric-ton vehicles are not subject to the monthly submission requirement, the obligation to install a DTG and retain data for six months applies to all commercial vehicles; therefore, you are required to submit the data upon inspection or request.
A. The enforcement decree stipulates “monthly” submission, and specific monthly deadlines are announced via the Korea Transportation Safety Authority’s (KOTSA) eTAS notices. For vehicles with automatic submission capabilities, there is no need to worry about deadlines; for standard models, it is safest to establish a fixed monthly routine for extracting data at the end of each month.
A. No. However, failure to comply with the monthly submission requirement will result in a penalty for non-submission. You must choose one of the following three options: submit manually every month without fail, replace it with a basic model (free when directly connected to OBD), or use an inspection center or an authorized agent.
A. The basic model transmits data via the driver’s smartphone app, so there are no communication fees; however, the connection may be lost if the app is not installed or if the driver changes phones. The communication-based model incurs a monthly service fee but does not rely on the driver and can be integrated with monitoring and safety features. If you have a large fleet of vehicles or frequent driver changes, the communication-based model is recommended; otherwise, the basic model is the more practical choice.
A. Violations of rest period regulations constitute a breach of compliance requirements for transport operators under the “Freight Vehicle Transport Business Act” and are subject to a fine of 500,000 won (up to 2 million won depending on the type of violation). However, a one-hour extension is permitted for exceptional circumstances such as traffic congestion, vehicle breakdowns, or emergency transport. Therefore, it is important to document the reasons for any cases that fall under these exceptions. Whether a fine is imposed and the procedures involved are determined by the relevant local government.
A. Since DTGs record GPS locations and stop times down to the second, they can objectively demonstrate how long a driver waited at loading and unloading locations. Following the reinstatement of the Safe Fare System (starting February 2026), disputes over low fares will be investigated through the Safe Fare Reporting Center, so it is advantageous for companies to keep their records organized.
This article is intended to provide general information. The requirements, procedures, and penalty standards for mandatory submission of driving records may vary depending on individual business circumstances and the latest enforcement decrees; therefore, please refer to the official guidelines from the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport when applying these rules in practice.