In February 2017, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) issued a fine to a Latvian transport company during a joint inspection with the police for digital tachograph fraud with cheat software.
This was a targeted investigation following reports from Latvia. The determination of manipulation of the tachograph was carried out using special measuring equipment.
Manipulating the tachograph
Manipulating the tachograph is a daily occurrence, as is evident from the registration of the number of fraud cases with tachographs in Belgium. In 2015, the Belgian police detected and fined 1519 cases of tachograph fraud, in 2014 there were 1637.
I therefore suspect that the driving and rest time regulations are violated on a large scale by transport companies using advanced cheat software. This seriously endangers road safety.
Supervision of tachograph fraud
Supervision of tachograph fraud is limited in the Netherlands. It cannot be ruled out that this is related to a lack of prioritisation and limited manpower at ILT and the police.
Although the fine for tachograph fraud was doubled in 2014, the question arises whether this fine is sufficiently deterrent for fraudulent transport companies, which will undoubtedly make a risk and cost-benefit assessment in advance.
Fines in the Netherlands for tachograph fraud
In the Netherlands, the fine for the transport company for manipulating the tachograph is €4,400. This fine for the transport company is increased by €4,400 if the driver is caught red-handed. In that case, the driver is fined €1,500.
France has a reputation to uphold when it comes to tackling fraudulent transport companies. During a routine check on a motorway in April 2015, a Spanish driver was stopped who was driving a truck equipped with a tachograph with an advanced system that was used to commit tachograph fraud.
Tachograph fraud: not profitable
Without scruples, the Spanish owner of the transport company was fined €30,000. It did not stop there. The Spanish transport entrepreneur was also sentenced to one year in prison. Sufficient time to come to his senses and conclude that tachograph fraud is not profitable.
Mr. Otto Lenselink
Breda, April 2017
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