German police crack down on truck safety violations at highway rest stops
Police and customs officials carried out joint inspections at two key rest stops in Germany this week. The operations took place at the Fuchsgrund rest area and the GĂźtersloh Nord service station. Several drivers were stopped due to serious safety and legal violations.
At the Fuchsgrund rest area, a 43-year-old Lithuanian truck driver was prevented from continuing his journey. Inspectors found severe rust corrosion on the trailerâs axle, making it unsafe for travel. The driver also held a forged Ukrainian licence and paid a âŹ600 security deposit for criminal proceedings. The trailerâs operating company now faces administrative action.
A 43-year-old Polish driver was halted at the same location for improperly secured hazardous materials containers. Meanwhile, at the GĂźtersloh Nord service station, another Polish trucker was stopped due to major technical defects in the vehicle. Overall, five drivers were temporarily banned from driving because of technical faults or poorly secured loads. Many more were penalised for failing to secure cargo correctly. Most violations, however, involved breaches of social regulationsâparticularly drivers ignoring mandatory rest and driving time limits. Customs officials also uncovered eight cases of illegal employment during the checks.
The inspections resulted in fines, driving bans, and administrative proceedings for multiple drivers and companies. Authorities highlighted ongoing issues with vehicle safety, load securing, and compliance with working hour regulations. Further checks are expected as part of routine enforcement efforts.
