What TAPA TSR is
TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association) brings together manufacturers, logistics providers and carriers to create standards that protect supply chains from theft. TSR (Trucking Security Requirements) sets minimum requirements for road transport. A second standard, FSR, covers warehouses.
TAPA standards are reviewed every three years. The current version is TSR 2026, published by TAPA EMEA in September 2026 and effective from 15 September 2026. It replaced TSR 2023. All requirements are mandatory unless the carrier is granted an official waiver.
Levels and vehicle types
The standard has three levels. TSR 1 is the highest, TSR 3 the entry level. Requirements also differ by vehicle type:
- hard-sided truck and trailer,
- soft-sided (curtain-sided) truck and trailer – TSR 3 only,
- rigid vans or fixed-body trucks,
- road transport of sea containers.
Chapter 8 adds enhanced options: A – monitoring, B – locking systems, C – rail transfer and tracking, D – security escorts, E – IT and cyber security threats, F – cargo compartment alarm devices.
Key technical requirements
The table shows selected requirements for a hard-sided truck and trailer. “–” means the requirement does not apply at that level.
| Requirement (TSR 2026 no.) | TSR 1 | TSR 2 | TSR 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covert tracker in the tractor (3.2.5–3.2.6) | at least 2 signalling methods | at least 2 signalling methods | yes |
| Tractor reporting interval (3.2.7–3.2.9) | every 5 min | every 15 min | every 30 min |
| Events: tampering, stop, battery, cargo door opening (3.2.10) | yes | – | – |
| Tracker battery back-up of at least 24 h (3.2.12) | yes | – | – |
| Silent duress alarm in the cab (3.2.13) | yes | yes | – |
| Mobile panic button carried by the driver (3.2.14) | yes | – | – |
| Engine immobiliser (3.2.2) | yes | – | – |
| Permanent stainless or hardened-steel locks (3.3.1) | yes | high-security lock or temporary device (3.3.2) | per carrier policy (3.3.4) |
| ISO 17712 seals on direct shipments (3.3.5) | yes | yes | yes |
| Kingpin, landing-gear or brake-line lock when the trailer is left (3.3.7) | – | yes | yes |
| Covert trailer tracker, 5-min reporting, untethering alert, 24 h back-up (3.3.9–3.3.12) | yes | – | – |
| Cargo door opening: signal to the alarm centre and siren (3.3.13–3.3.14) | yes | – | – |
| Geofencing of routes and parking locations (5.3.1–5.3.2) | yes | – | – |
The standard lists the signalling methods as 3G/4G/5G, SMS/GPRS over GSM and satellite. TSR 2026 stresses that satellite communication remains the only truly effective fallback, because mobile networks depend on each country's infrastructure.
Procedures, not just hardware
Most of TSR is about organisation: risk assessment of routes and stops, a list of approved parking locations, alarm response by the monitoring centre, driver training, pre-trip vehicle checks and subcontractor vetting. For example, on direct shipments seals are applied and removed by a designated person, not the driver. At TSR 1, dropping a loaded trailer needs the buyer's written approval.
Certification
- Certification is issued by an Independent Audit Body (IAB) or – for TSR 3 only – through self-certification by a TAPA Authorised Auditor.
- The certificate is valid for 3 years with no extension. The carrier carries out a self-assessment every year in between.
- The carrier and its processes are certified, not individual devices. A hardware maker therefore cannot promise a “TAPA certificate” for a tracker.
How STARCONT devices support TSR requirements
We always start device selection from the TSR level and vehicle type. Examples:
- Trailer tracker with its own power – e.g. the TLW2-12B (vehicle power while driving, then a 9,600 mAh battery) or the solar TLP2-SFB.
- Satellite as a fallback channel – the AT300 and Helios Hybrid trackers with Iridium connectivity.
- Cargo door sensors – the TSDT1-B and T-Sense report door opening to the tracker.
- Driver panic button – the T-Button key fob with SOS.
- Electronic seals and padlocks with opening alarms and geofences – see our seal comparison.
Before an audit, check TAPA's supporting documents: Locking Systems Guidance and Telematics Systems Guidance.