Two thirds of truck drivers do not observe weekend rest

Drivers are required to rest for at least 45 hours a week in a home or hotel and not in their cabin. If they violate these agreements, they risk a fine of up to 1800 euros. Truck drivers often spend their rest periods in inhumane conditions. Eastern European drivers in particular sometimes do not leave their cabin for months. Also in Zeebrugge, mainly Eastern Europeans spent their weekend in the parking lot, where there were only eight toilets for 240 standing places.

The security forces were mainly looking for violations of social legislation. All in all, the police eventually issued around 190,000 euros in fines, which they usually send to the transport companies themselves. She also arrested one person for illegal employment and seized three trucks for further investigation.

32 drivers were also guilty of violations of the European return obligation. This obliges them to drive back to the country where their company is located at least every eight weeks. Other violations include driving and rest times and tachographs, eight, and forgery or falsely obtaining various documents, also eight.

More than 90 officers and inspectors had cordoned off the full parking lot early in the morning. The Federal Judicial Police also took part in the action and checked whether there was any evidence of human trafficking. Customs were looking for possible red diesel.