Belgian police have issued more than 250,000 euros in fines as a result of a major police operation looking out for social fraud in the haulage sector. Nine trucks were seized police figures show. Driving and rest periods in particular came under scrutiny during the operation up in the Port of Antwerp.
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Major checks on lorries in Antwerp: 250,000 euros in on-the-spot fines and 9 trucks seized
Colin Clapson
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Over a hundred officers checked trucks at the Noorderlaan car park near the Port of Antwerp yesterday. The checks were carried out together with several other services, including the immigration department, the Social Intelligence and Investigation Service (SIOD) and the European Labour Authority ELA.
Inspectors encountered 341 trucks in the car park, 202 of which could be checked.
135 drivers were found to be violating rules on taking weekly rest periods. They had had to spend weekends in their trucks, when their employer should have provided accommodation e.g. a hotel.
70 vehicles did not return to their home country after an eight-week period, as is required.
35 drivers had been on the road for more than four weeks, which is also not allowed.
124 on-the-spot fines were collected, amounting to €255,762.
9 trucks were impounded.
"The situation is often distressing," says Guy Van Hyfte of the European Transport Federation. "There are rules stipulating that one is not allowed to sleep in the cabin for the longer rest period. Still this happens all the time… Sometimes the drivers live in their cab for 6 or 7 months."
That is not allowed: a driver must be able to return home every four weeks.
These dire circumstances were also seen by Eric Van Den Heuvel of the Belgian police: "Here the drivers cook on a campfire. There are showers, but these sanitary facilities are not equipped for 300 to 400 people."