German control authorities in road freight transport are increasingly encountering serious violations of the applicable qualification requirements for truck drivers. This was revealed by Süddeutsche Zeitung and the WDR program Westpol. According to the reports, the focus is particularly on drivers from Georgia and Uzbekistan, who are employed by Eastern European trucking companies for transports in the German market. As reported by the Süddeutsche, there are increasing cases where these drivers have neither a valid driving license nor the necessary basic qualification.
Authorities intensify controls
To ensure road safety, both the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility and the state police have significantly expanded their control measures. According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Federal Office checked
around 105,000 vehicles in 2023. In about 40 percent of the cases, the officers found violations. They particularly checked vehicles from Eastern European fleets that were used for German clients.
Lack of experience and language barriers
According to the research, many drivers lack not only valid documents but also practical experience. Some drivers were put on vehicles after a short briefing that they had never driven in this form before. A driver from Uzbekistan reported to the Süddeutsche Zeitung that he had no driving experience with heavy trucks before his deployment in Europe and only completed a one-week crash course in Latvia. According to the police, language barriers also impair safe participation in traffic.
Black
market for licenses documented
In the course of the research, Süddeutsche Zeitung, together with the television magazine Westpol, encountered a wide illegal supply of fake truck licenses. Through messenger services like Telegram, the reporters contacted suspected forgers from Romania, Uzbekistan, and Germany. The prices for the deceptively real-looking documents ranged from 150 to 1,200 US dollars. Although no license was purchased during the research, the conversations show the existence of a functioning black market. However, the article does not reveal whether and to what extent such fakes are actually in use.
Endangering safety and market distortion
According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, the results of the checks raise questions not only about road safety but also about
compliance with market rules in European competition. By employing drivers without sufficient qualifications, transport companies can significantly reduce personnel costs. This creates a considerable competitive disadvantage for German freight companies with regularly trained personnel.
Challenges for contractors in freight transport
For managers in road freight transport, the development is relevant in several ways. In addition to the issue of road safety, the topic also concerns the liability of clients in subcontractor chains. Süddeutsche Zeitung points out that German companies regularly commission Eastern European forwarding agents, who in turn employ drivers from third countries. A lack of control over qualification along the entire supply chain can therefore also lead to legal and financial risks for clients.
