556 vehicles inspected during ELA action week on road transport

The control officers selected key motorway and logistics hubs across Europe to inspect vehicles to verify compliance with driving and rest time obligations, tachograph use, posting rules, and with other applicable social and labour obligations. While most inspections focused on roadside checks, inspectors also visited the offices of selected transport operators in targeted checks.

• 576 drivers were checked, including 158 posted drivers from EU/EEA countries and third countries.
• 556 vehicles were inspected.
• 272 “clean” checks.
• 494 control officers took part, together with observers from participating Member States and ELA staff.
• 21 EU/EFTA Member States participated in the action.
• €583,000 in fines issued.

The four largest inspections involving tens of enforcement officers from multiple agencies took place on Germany’s A6 motorway, an important international transport route, near Florence at a crucial south-north route from Italy to Europe as well as at two inspection sites in Belgium.

Another coordinated enforcement action took place in Moerdijk, the Netherlands, and in Kaunas, Lithuania, where infringements related to working conditions of third country nationals were identified (see also: Joint inspections reveal truck drivers working illegally in the Netherlands and Belgium).

This week of action showed how cross-border cooperation can turn roadside checks into a coordinated European effort, bringing together national expertise, shared information and onsite enforcement. These inspections underline the value of coordinated enforcement in detecting infringements, supporting fair working conditions and ensuring that road transport rules are applied consistently across borders.

* Photos courtesy of SIOD and the Netherlands Labour Authority.