The growing volume of freight transport in Germany is directly increasing the risks associated with the carriage of hazardous substances and waste. To address this, officers conducted a detailed inspection operation last Thursday at a motorway service area in Baden-Baden on the A5.
Around 40 specialists from the Baden-Württemberg police’s dangerous goods unit took part, including officers from Offenburg, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Pforzheim, and Heilbronn. The operation was interdisciplinary, involving representatives of the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility, the French Gendarmerie Nationale, the Karlsruhe Regional Council, and officials from Baden-Baden, Rastatt, and Ortenaukreis. The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) in Bühl provided logistical support.
Despite adverse weather interrupting proceedings, between 08:00 and 15:00 officers thoroughly inspected 30 vehicles carrying dangerous goods. Only two were found to be fully compliant — a result which, according to the authorities, illustrates the scale of the problem and the need for continued checks.
Photo: Polizeipräsidium Offenburg
Serious breaches of regulations
The most common offences related to dangerous goods transport rules, drivers’ working hours, and improper load securing. In six cases, violations were so severe that onward travel was prohibited.
One particularly dangerous situation involved a transport company whose two lorries were carrying 80 overloaded drums containing self-igniting waste. The cargo had not been properly secured, and several drums were damaged and partially open, posing a real hazard. Under police escort, the vehicles were directed to a specialist facility where the substances were safely unloaded and repackaged.
Penalties for dangerous goods violations in Germany
Violations of the regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods are set out in §28 of the Gefahrgutverordnung Straße, Eisenbahn und Binnenschifffahrt (GGVSEB) – the ordinance on the transport of hazardous materials by road, rail, and inland waterways. The corresponding Bußgeldkatalog (fine catalogue) specifies fines ranging from €50 to €500 depending on the nature of the offence.
Common offences and their penalties include:
- Incorrect or incomplete labelling of transport packages (Versandstücke) – €250
- Ignoring transport restrictions – €500
- Failure to comply with weight, temperature, or filling standards – €250
- Incorrect use or handling of tanks – €100, or up to €500 if posing a risk to people or the environment
- Failure to carry out tank leak inspections – €250
- Missing or incorrect hazard labels – €100–300
- Irregularities in transport documentation (e.g. missing written instructions, permits, or ADR certificates) – €100–400
- No valid ADR driver training certificate – €300–500
- Failure to remove residual hazardous substances from tankers or tanks – €250
- Driving under the influence of alcohol – €250
The fine catalogue is extensive and detailed, meaning that even minor negligence in dangerous goods transport can result in substantial penalties.
New EU rules for ADR inspections
The results of this large-scale operation in one of the EU’s main transit countries highlight the need for tighter ADR checks. On 13 October, the European Commission published Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/1801 on harmonised procedures for road transport inspections of dangerous goods.
Under the new directive, all enforcement authorities in EU member states will use a standardised ADR checklist. The document sets out in detail how to assess the technical condition of vehicles, tanks, and containers, as well as how to verify the completeness of documentation and the presence of required safety equipment.
This harmonisation aims to ensure that inspections across Europe are conducted according to the same standards, improving transparency and enforcement effectiveness. Member states must transpose the directive by 23 June 2026, with the new unified inspection procedures becoming mandatory from 24 June 2026.
The new system is expected to make inspections more consistent and comparable between countries, thereby enhancing the overall safety of dangerous goods transport across the European Union.
