ECR EGTC in Action: Strengthening European Road Transport Enforcement Throughout 2026

Through joint roadside inspections, international inspector exchanges and specialised training, Euro Contrôle Route European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (ECR EGTC) continues to strengthen practical cooperation between European road transport enforcement authorities.

Throughout 2026, ECR EGTC has continued to bring European road transport enforcement authorities together through an extensive programme of operational exchanges, technical workshops, specialised training and coordinated roadside inspections. These activities have provided opportunities for inspectors from different countries to work alongside one another, exchange technical knowledge, compare national enforcement procedures and address the challenges arising from developments in road transport legislation and vehicle technology.

The programme has covered a wide range of enforcement subjects, including the transport of dangerous goods under the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), driving and resting time requirements, tachograph manipulation, vehicle mass and dimensions, technical roadworthiness and cargo securing. By combining practical roadside operations with technical discussions and professional exchanges, ECR EGTC has supported the development of enforcement expertise while strengthening cooperation between participating authorities and European partners.

By the end of September, eight major enforcement exchanges, workshops and training activities had brought together a combined 167 participants. 

Joint Enforcement Activities and Cross-Border Exchanges

An important part of ECR EGTC's programme has been the continuation of joint roadside enforcement activities, allowing inspectors to apply their expertise in an international operational environment. The first ADR Cross-Border Enforcement (ACE I) activity took place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from 30 March to 2 April, bringing together 23 inspectors from eight countries. Organised by the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT), the operation resulted in 36 vehicles being inspected, with 43 ADR infringements identified. The exchange also addressed inspector safety and developments in inspection technology. Further information is available in the published article on ACE I in Rotterdam.

In April, ECR EGTC strengthened its operational cooperation with the European Labour Authority (ELA) through the DRT Cross-Border Enforcement Workshop in Warsaw, Poland. Organised in cooperation with Poland's General Inspectorate of Road Transport (GITD), the activity brought together 32 participants from 11 countries and combined technical discussions with joint roadside inspections. The workshop addressed the practical enforcement of European social legislation, including driving and resting time requirements, cabotage, the posting of drivers and tachograph compliance. It also represented an important milestone in cooperation between ECR EGTC and ELA, bringing institutional collaboration directly into a roadside enforcement environment. The event is covered in greater detail in the published article on the DRT workshop in Poland.

The programme continued in May with a trilateral inspector exchange involving the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, held from 25 to 28 May in the Hradec Králové region. The activity brought together 20 participants from the Czech Republic's Road Transport Inspection (INSID), Germany's Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) and the Polish Road Transport Inspectorate (ITD). Focusing on vehicle mass and axle-load enforcement, the exchange combined technical presentations and discussions with joint roadside inspections on the D35 motorway near Dolní Roveň. The activity provided an opportunity to compare how neighbouring countries identify overloaded vehicles, assess compliance with national weight requirements and apply enforcement procedures.

A central part of the discussions concerned the differences between national approaches to weighing vehicles and determining sanctions. While Germany and Poland generally use percentage-based thresholds when calculating certain sanctions for overloaded vehicles, the Czech Republic applies penalties based on absolute weight exceedances measured in kilograms. Participants also compared the verification of vehicle weights against manufacturers' data and the treatment of particular transport operations. These exchanges highlighted how inspectors working within a common European transport market may nevertheless encounter different procedures and legal requirements when assessing similar infringements.

Technology formed another important part of the programme, particularly the development and application of Weight-in-Motion systems, which make it possible to measure vehicle weights while vehicles are moving. The three authorities compared approaches ranging from the use of this technology to select potentially overloaded vehicles for further inspection to its application in direct enforcement and automated sanctioning. Discussions also addressed differences in maximum permitted vehicle weights, including specific Czech operations allowing gross vehicle weights of up to 48 tonnes, compared with the general 40-tonne framework commonly applied in neighbouring countries. Despite the differences identified, participants recognised a shared enforcement concern: the increasing number of overloaded light commercial vehicles. The exchange strengthened practical cooperation between neighbouring authorities, with Germany identified as the next host in the trilateral programme's established rotation.

Strengthening Tachograph Expertise and Specialist Enforcement Skills

During the same period, from 26 to 29 May, the ECR EGTC Tachowebgroup (TWG) participated in a multilateral exchange in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland. Hosted by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), in cooperation with An Garda Síochána, ROADPOL and the TWG Expert Group, the programme brought together 22 participants, including 13 visiting enforcement representatives from Germany, Portugal, Romania, Poland, the Netherlands, France and the Czech Republic. The principal focus was the technical and operational application of second-generation, version two smart tachographs (G2V2), particularly the challenges associated with software updates, calibration, retrofitting and the identification of potential manipulation.

Throughout the exchange, presentations and practical discussions addressed how developments in tachograph technology can affect roadside inspections and the interpretation of recorded data. Participants examined the implications of technical changes for inspection procedures and compared approaches to identifying irregularities in tachograph equipment and driver-card use. The programme also provided insight into the Irish enforcement framework, including the electronic recording of inspection activities and the procedures through which infringements identified during roadside checks may lead to further investigation or prosecution.

A particularly valuable component was a simulated courtroom hearing, illustrating the importance of evidence collection and the procedural requirements associated with prosecuting transport infringements. Practical roadside activities involving RSA inspectors and An Garda Síochána resulted in 15 inspections. Among the findings was a vehicle requiring a G2V2 tachograph retrofit, for which a direction to retrofit and prosecution proceedings were initiated. Inspectors also identified suspicious driver-card use requiring follow-up at the transport undertaking's premises. Another vehicle was found to have an expired technical inspection certificate, unpaid road tax, mechanical defects and an expired tachograph calibration, leading to its seizure for further enforcement testing. The exchange demonstrated the importance of combining specialist technical knowledge with effective evidence-gathering procedures and an understanding of the different legal systems through which infringements are addressed.

ECR EGTC and ROADPOL continued their cooperation in June through the first Tachograph Fraud Masterclass of 2026, held in Hasselt, Belgium. The programme brought together 16 trainees, including eight participating through ECR EGTC and eight through ROADPOL, supported by experienced specialists from European enforcement authorities. The Masterclass focused on developing inspectors' ability to recognise tachograph manipulation and understand the technical evolution of recording equipment, from analogue tachographs to digital and second-generation smart devices. Through specialist instruction and practical cases, participants examined manipulation techniques, indicators of fraud and developments that present new challenges for roadside enforcement.

Practical experience formed a central element of the training, with experts from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands presenting examples encountered during national inspections. These case studies provided opportunities for participants to compare detection methods, examine how manipulation can affect recorded driving activity and discuss appropriate inspection approaches. The programme also addressed the economic incentives behind tachograph fraud and its implications for road safety, drivers' working conditions and fair competition. By bringing together specialist trainers and inspectors from different authorities, the Masterclass provided a practical environment for developing advanced technical skills and reinforcing cooperation between ECR EGTC and ROADPOL.

Advanced Technical Training and Cooperation with European Partners

From 29 June to 3 July, the ECR EGTC ADR Expert Group held its annual Expert Class in Schlüchtern, Germany, organised by BALM. The activity brought together 18 enforcement specialists from ten European countries for advanced training on the transport of dangerous goods. Participants addressed classification questions involving lithium batteries and renewable energy technologies, waste classification, roadside inspection requirements, alternative propulsion technologies and amendments expected under ADR 2027. The programme also initiated work on a practical reference document concerning the different fire extinguisher inspection-date and expiry-date markings used across participating countries. Further details can be found in the published article, ADR Expert Class 2026 Strengthens Cooperation on Dangerous Goods Transport Enforcement.

Alongside its operational and technical programme, ECR EGTC continued contributing to discussions at European institutional level. On 30 June 2026, ECR EGTC Director Heinz-Albert Stumpen participated in the high-level conference Light Vehicles. Big Changes. in Brussels, organised by ELA. The conference addressed the new EU requirements for light commercial vehicles, with ECR EGTC contributing its perspective on practical roadside enforcement.

ECR EGTC's international cooperation continued in September with a bilateral inspector exchange between France and Germany, held from 7 to 11 September in Münster, Germany. The activity brought together 13 participants and focused on cabotage operations and the application of EU social legislation. Organised through cooperation between BALM and French enforcement authorities, the exchange provided an opportunity to compare national inspection methods, examine common operational challenges and share practical experience in the control of international road transport operations. Such bilateral activities complement larger multilateral exchanges by encouraging direct cooperation between authorities that regularly encounter transport operations crossing their respective national borders.

From 14 to 16 September, ECR EGTC also cooperated with ELA and ROADPOL on specialised training concerning tachograph manipulation and driving and resting time infringements in Bratislava, Slovakia. The programme brought together approximately 60 enforcement officers from 25 EU Member States and Norway, creating an opportunity to share specialist knowledge with a broad European enforcement audience. The training addressed methods for identifying tachograph manipulation, analysing driving and resting time infringements, interpreting data from modern tachograph equipment and responding to enforcement challenges associated with light commercial vehicles.

Technical presentations were complemented by practical case studies, group exercises and peer-to-peer exchanges, allowing participants to connect regulatory and technical knowledge with situations encountered during enforcement activities. The initiative demonstrated the value of combining the complementary expertise of ELA, ECR EGTC and ROADPOL to support inspector training and the exchange of effective enforcement methods. It also reinforced the importance of sustained cooperation between European institutions and national enforcement authorities in addressing developments in transport legislation and technology.

Technical Roadside Inspections and DRT Cooperation in September

The ECR EGTC Technical Inspection and Cargo Securing (TECHCA) Expert Group continued its programme from 21 to 25 September with a workshop in Dresden, Germany, organised by BALM. The event brought together 23 participants to examine the growing complexity of technical roadside inspections and the knowledge required by enforcement authorities working with increasingly sophisticated commercial vehicles. The programme addressed innovative inspection methods, vehicle electronics, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and cargo securing, combining technical presentations with practical enforcement experience.

A central theme concerned the challenges that modern electronic vehicle systems present for roadside inspection authorities. Participants examined how technological developments influence the assessment of vehicle compliance and the tools and knowledge required to identify technical deficiencies. Polish inspectors contributed their experience and presented practical guidance concerning the inspection of ADAS systems, allowing colleagues from other countries to consider how similar approaches might support their own technical inspection activities. Discussions on cargo securing also provided opportunities to compare national inspection practices and methods used to assess the safe loading and securing of goods during transport operations.

The workshop included roadside enforcement activities involving German inspection services, enabling participants to apply and discuss technical inspection methods in an operational setting. A visit to a DEKRA vehicle testing facility provided further insight into specialised testing procedures and technical inspection equipment. By combining practical activities with the exchange of national experience, the programme highlighted the need for enforcement authorities to continually update their technical expertise as vehicle technology develops. It also supported closer cooperation within the TECHCA Expert Group on subjects of shared operational importance.

During the same week, from 22 to 24 September, the ECR EGTC Driving and Resting Times Expert Group met in Zagreb, Croatia, hosted in cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. According to the final participant information circulated by the organisers, 17 participants from ten countries were registered for the event. The meeting focused on the practical application of European social legislation and the differences that enforcement authorities may encounter in national inspection procedures.

A significant part of the discussions concerned the introduction of tachograph requirements for certain light commercial vehicles, including questions relating to vehicle mass and the determination of when the new requirements apply. Participants also compared national approaches to calculating compensation for reduced weekly rest periods and enforcing the prohibition on spending regular weekly rest periods inside vehicles. Further topics included vehicle immobilisation, working-time tolerances, tachograph updates and the interpretation of specific transport operations under EU legislation. These exchanges provided an opportunity to identify areas where differences in interpretation or national procedures may create practical challenges for inspectors.

The programme also included roadside enforcement activities on 23 and 24 September, along the A3 motorway near Ježevo, connecting the Expert Group's discussions with practical inspection experience. The meeting contributed to preparations for future activities, including the November Coordinated Control Week and the development of the DRT Expert Group's work programme for 2027. As with other ECR EGTC activities, the combination of technical discussion and direct operational exchange helped strengthen mutual understanding between national enforcement authorities.

Coordinated Control Weeks and Continued European Cooperation

Alongside its inspector exchanges, workshops and specialist training, ECR EGTC continued its programme of Coordinated Control Weeks, enabling participating national authorities to address shared inspection priorities through parallel enforcement activities. The 2026 programme has included thematic controls concerning heavy goods vehicles and buses, vehicle mass and dimensions, cargo securing, technical roadworthiness and dangerous goods transport. These coordinated activities allow national enforcement services to operate within common thematic frameworks while applying the relevant legislation and procedures of their respective countries.

The experience gathered through Coordinated Control Weeks complements the work of ECR EGTC's Expert Groups by helping identify recurring compliance challenges and subjects requiring further technical cooperation. It also contributes to a broader exchange of enforcement experience, linking national roadside inspection activities with international training and professional development. Through this approach, ECR EGTC supports cooperation not only during specific multinational events but also across the routine work of participating national authorities.

The activities undertaken in 2026 have highlighted several common developments affecting European road transport enforcement. New obligations for light commercial vehicles require inspectors to remain informed about changing rules and their practical application, while developments in smart tachographs, vehicle electronics and alternative propulsion technologies demand increasingly specialised technical knowledge. At the same time, exchanges between neighbouring enforcement authorities continue to demonstrate differences in national procedures, sanctioning systems and operational methods, reinforcing the value of professional dialogue and shared experience.

Through its Expert Groups, international exchanges, joint enforcement operations and partnerships with ELA, ROADPOL and national enforcement authorities, ECR EGTC continues to strengthen practical cooperation across Europe. The activities carried out in 2026 demonstrate how shared expertise, technical training and coordinated enforcement contribute to safer roads, improved working conditions for drivers and fair competition in Europe's road transport sector.

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