Mass checks on lorry drive and rest times at Port of Antwerp

"A show of force." That is how Belgian justice minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Flemish liberal/Open VLD) called today’s action. Over a hundred officers are dployed on the Noorderlaan car park near the port of Antwerp. Their goal? To check trucks and drivers for social fraud.

Checking driving and rest periods and (especially) the lack of them is the officers’ main concern. "These are often distressing situations," says Guy Van Hyfte of the European Transport Federation. "There are rules: people are not allowed to sleep in the cab during the longer rest period, yet this happens all the time. There is only one shower here, I haven't seen it yet, but it must be horrible. I really feel for these people. Sometimes they live in their cab for up to 6 or 7 months." That is not allowed: a driver must be able to return home every four weeks.

"An unrested driver is a danger to you and me as a road user."

It is not only important for drivers as well as for other road users, but there is also the issue of unfair competition. "The companies that respect the rules pass on these costs to their customers. It is unfair if others do not," says interior minister Annelies Verlinden (Flemish Christian democrat/CD&V).

Driving and rest times in Belgium:

A driver may drive for a maximum of 4.5 hours without a break. This must be followed by a 45-minute break.

Every day, there must be a period of 11 hours of rest, after 9-10 hours of driving - although this can be deviated from three times a week.

There is also the weekly rest period: after six days, a mandatory rest period of 45 hours must follow - this too may be shortened but must be made good.

There are also agreements on when rest may be taken in the cab and when not.

Dodgy employers are the target  

The focus of our checks is on the employers, interior minister Annelies Verlinden stresses. "The employers should be fined; we should not punish drivers a second time for the appalling conditions they have to work in."

The operation isn’t just about the fines, information on which firms are or are not complying with the rules is also shared internationally.

However, inspectors see that drivers - and especially employers - often ignore driving and rest periods. Fines have to be paid immediately and start at 1,800 euros.

Read more: the results of the operation are in!