Widespread Manipulation of Truck Safety Systems Alarms German Police

Authorities report systemic violations of work hour laws and tampering with digital monitoring devices in the international trucking industry.

German traffic police highlight an alarming rise in organized manipulation of truck safety and monitoring systems, often orchestrated by employers rather than individual drivers.
Violations include tampering with digital tachographs, use of fake driver licenses and work permits, and falsified driver cards to evade EU regulations on driving hours.
Techniques to disable emissions controls, such as AdBlue emulators, allow companies to cut costs by avoiding maintenance and taxes tied to emissions standards.
Law-abiding companies face unfair competition due to cost advantages gained by violating safety and environmental regulations.
Recent cross-border inspections in Europe revealed violations in 35% of trucks, with nighttime checks in Germany sometimes uncovering issues in 100% of vehicles inspected.