New tools to control transport operators in the European Union

The European Commission is currently introducing another package of reforms aimed this time at updating vehicle fitness regulations in the European Union. From February 2023, the risk assessment system for road transport operators introduced within the Mobility Package, which mainly investigates breaches of working rules for drivers and transport managers, is now being extended to include new regulations that will have a not inconsiderable impact on road hauliers across the Community in terms of load pooling, possible increases in delivery times and further tools to control hauliers. Among the changes announced are compulsory load securing inspections during roadside checks, a much wider use of digital vehicle documents and new emissions testing procedures.

The new legislative package, unveiled on 24.04.2025, will introduce a full revision of three key directives relating to roadside inspections of commercial vehicles, periodic technical vehicle inspections and registration documents, and indirect and direct control of exhaust emissions. The Commission stressed that, in addition to increasing road safety, the new rules are expected to significantly reduce harmful emissions and, above all, improve enforcement of the regulations through digitisation between EU countries and harmonisation of information and communication systems.

All road hauliers need to be aware that checking the securing and securing of cargo is now becoming an indispensable part of every roadside inspection in the EU. Inspectors are now being provided with checking procedures whereby they must assess whether the goods can move in relation to each other, the walls or the floor of the vehicle while driving, including in emergency situations or when starting uphill, they will also examine the possibility of the load shifting or, in extreme cases, falling out of the load compartment both during smooth driving and, above all, during sudden manoeuvres caused by unforeseen situations on the road. The European Commission has just made it compulsory for Member States to provide additional training for all road inspectors on cargo securing procedures in each EU country.

Another fixed point is to be the compulsory inspection of exhaust emissions, especially of any diesel vehicle. Traditional smoke tests will be replaced by particle number (PN) and NOx tests for trucks equipped with particle filters. An interesting and at the same time surprising solution envisaged in the new European Commission directives is the proposal to use remote emissions and noise measurement technology as a method of preselecting vehicles for detailed inspection. This will allow inspectors to focus on vehicles likely to be in breach of safety or environmental standards.

It is also worth noting the fact that all heavy commercial vehicles will have to undergo annual technical inspections from the date of first registration, in all Member States, as a large group of EU countries did not require such inspections of their operators. The exact age limit of vehicles subject to compulsory inspection has not yet been clarified, as the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) continues to request a reduction in the exemption period for vehicles no older than 6 years.

The last key scope of the reform is now becoming the digitisation of vehicle documents. The European Commission envisages the use of electronic registration and technical test certificates, available on a single, common online platform in the EU.

The official EC communiqué reads that the digital form is expected to ‘simplify administrative processes and protect citizens from fraud, such as manipulation of vehicle mileage’. Mileage data will be recorded not only during technical inspections, but also during vehicle repairs and maintenance.

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) received the European Commission's proposals with cautious optimism. We will only be able to make our rational judgements after a few months of observing how theory has translated into practice, which we will not fail to mention to our customers and all our friends as usual.

Author: Mirosław Koczar