On 4 November 2025, the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) and the customs authorities conducted a joint large-scale inspection on the premises of the Köln-Eifeltor transshipment railway station against unfair practices in road freight transport. According to BALM, the inspection began at 7:00 a.m. and ended as scheduled at 12:30 p.m.
Focus on rest periods and minimum wage
BALM focused during the measure on enforcing the prohibition of spending the regular weekly rest period in the vehicle. The customs authorities focused on verifying the statutory minimum wage regulations. The vehicles intended
for inspection were directed to a designated inspection area and there jointly by BALM staff and the Financial Control of Illicit Employment (FKS) were inspected.
Cooperation of authorities and associations
Representatives of the Directorate-General of Customs, BALM and the Federal Association for Freight Transport, Logistics and Waste Management (BGL) also took part in the inspection. According to Iris Vermehr, head of the Directorate-General of Customs, close cooperation between BALM and FKS is a central factor for the effective enforcement of minimum working conditions in freight transport. With the coordinated approach, they send a
strong signal of prevention in unity and also make use of the synergies of inter-agency cooperation. The BGL expressly welcomed the concerted approach.
Fair competition and safety in focus
According to BALM President Christian Hoffmann, such inspections serve to ensure fair competition in the logistics sector and at the same time contribute to increasing road safety. As part of the inspections, the staff, according to BALM, perform preventive educational work by at all times explaining the legal framework of driving and rest times.
Christian Hoffmann, President of BALM: “Traffic controls, such as those
conducted today at the Köln-Eifeltor transshipment railway station, contribute to ensuring fair competition in the logistics sector. At the same time, they greatly improve road safety. As part of our controls, we also provide preventive educational work by always explaining the legal framework of driving and rest times. The purpose of these regulations is to protect the individual driver and thus the safety of all road users.”
The Deutsche Umschlaggesellschaft Schiene–Straße (DUSS) mbH provided the premises of the transshipment station for the inspection, for which BALM expressly thanked in its press release. (av,
