A joint ROADPOL – European Labour Authority inspection operation across multiple EU countries has led to the discovery of 208 infringements in the road transport sector.
The large-scale enforcement action in the end of Ferburary, involving Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, and Romania, brought together inspectors from various national authorities, including transport, police, and labour enforcement agencies. Visiting inspectors from 12 Member States—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, and Slovakia—also participated.
Scope
A total of 420 trucks and buses were checked, uncovering multiple violations primarily related to driving and resting times, fraudulent use or manipulation of tachographs, cabotage regulations, missing documents such as community licenses, and undeclared work. These infringements resulted in total fines exceeding EUR 240,000. One particularly severe case in Romania revealed a driver who had reduced his weekly rest period by nearly 17 hours.
Теchnology
In Belgium, inspectors employed remote early detection communication readers (REDCR) to scan vehicles equipped with second-generation smart tachographs, which allow authorities to detect potential violations remotely. Starting in January 2025, all vehicles engaged in international road transport must be equipped with these advanced tachographs to improve compliance monitoring and road safety.
Results
The enforcement initiative yielded significant results, with 170 inspections classified as “clean” checks with no infractions. The operation involved 320 local enforcement officers and contributions from 51 visiting inspectors and 14 ELA staff members.
The joint ROADPOL-ELA inspections underscore the EU’s commitment to ensuring fair working conditions and road safety in the transport sector. By strengthening cross-border cooperation and leveraging advanced enforcement tools, ROADPOL and ELA aim to uphold standards and protect both drivers and the public. The success of this operation highlights the ongoing efforts to improve compliance and accountability within the highly transnational road transport industry, the two entities announced.
The control action was organized under the STRIDER III project co-financed by the European Union.