The action took place in the three-country Euregio Meuse-Rhine region, mainly on the Lichtenbusch border crossing and in around 15 additional locations close to the borders.
In total, 1,987 vehicles and 1,517 people were checked resulting in 953 suspected infringements, amongst others of driving and resting time rules applicable to professional drivers. These strict EU-wide rules aim at protecting workers’ rights, as well as road safety by preventing tiredness of truck drivers.
Dutch and German authorities jointly identified a case commonly encountered in cross-border inspections. It seems that the driver was employed in a Member State with lower wages, remuneration, and social security contributions, despite not having performed any work in that State and operating exclusively between Germany and the Netherlands in recent years. Such practices undermine workers’ rights, distort fair competition among companies, and result in tax and social security evasion. In addition, the authorities discovered multiple infringements of working and resting time regulations by the same truck driver.
The inspections also revealed other offences and irregularities within the scope of the other authorities involved. These include 31 criminal charges, among them for narcotics violations; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and 3 persons were arrested due to outstanding arrest warrants.
Participating authorities included in Germany the Federal Police, State Police, and Customs, Financial Control of Undeclared Work Unit (FKS); in the Netherlands the Labour Authority, Police and Royal Marechaussee; and, on the Belgian side, the Federal Police, Regional Police, as well as the Motorway Police, the Railway Police and the Customs. A non-profit organisation providing advice and support to truck drivers was also present.
ELA remains committed to supporting and coordinating cross border inspections in road transport, reinforcing efforts to ensure fair working conditions and road safety throughout the European Union.
