The legislative package, presented on Thursday, aims to revise three key directives: periodic technical inspections (PTI), vehicle registration documents, and roadside inspections (RSI) of commercial vehicles. According to the Commission, the measures are designed to enhance road safety, reduce harmful emissions, and strengthen cross-border enforcement through digitalisation.
As reported by the German transport and logistics publication DVZ (Deutsche Verkehrs-Zeitung), one of the key changes for the freight sector is the requirement that inspectors across the EU must verify the proper securing of cargo during roadside checks.
“When lorries are stopped for an on-the-spot inspection, inspectors should also be obliged to check whether the load is properly secured,” DVZ noted.
Under the proposal, inspectors will assess whether goods “can only minimally shift in relation to each other, to the walls or surfaces of the vehicle during operation, including during emergencies and hill starts,” and whether they “cannot fall out of the load compartment or move beyond the loading surface.”
To ensure consistent enforcement, the Commission further stipulates that Member States must ensure roadside inspectors are trained specifically in load securing procedures.
Stricter emissions testing at the roadside
The proposed rules also mandate the use of more precise emission testing methods, particularly for heavy-duty diesel vehicles. According to the European Commission, the goal is to better detect high-emitting vehicles and reduce exposure to ultrafine particles and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
As DVZ highlights, the Commission recommends replacing the traditional opacity test with particle number (PN) tests for diesel trucks equipped with particulate filters. These PN tests have already shown positive results in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Simultaneous PN and NOx tests will also be introduced, and will be applicable during roadside checks of heavy goods vehicles.
Increased frequency of technical inspections for older vans
The Commission is also proposing annual inspections for vans and passenger cars older than ten years, a measure already in place in many EU countries. While Germany currently only mandates inspections every two years, EU officials argue that the increased frequency could help reduce the number of dangerous or polluting vehicles on the road.
In response, German MEPs from the conservative and liberal parties have criticised the proposal.
“A yearly inspection deadline for older vehicles drives up costs for car owners and does little to improve road safety,” said Markus Ferber (CSU). However, the ETSC supports even stricter rules, suggesting inspections should begin annually from six years of age for vans and cars.
For commercial vans up to 3.5 tonnes (N1 category), the Commission proposes that 2% of the national fleet be inspected annually at the roadside, compared with 5% for heavy-duty vehicles.
Digital documents and cross-border data sharing
Another core element of the proposal is the digitalisation of vehicle-related documents. The European Commission plans to introduce electronic vehicle registration and periodic testing certificates, which will be accessible via a common platform across EU Member States.
According to the Commission’s official announcement, this will “simplify administrative processes and protect citizens against fraudulent activities such as odometer tampering.”
In addition, DVZ reports that vehicle mileage data will be recorded not only at inspections, but also during routine maintenance and repair. Manufacturers of digitally connected vehicles will be obliged to report odometer data regularly.
The goal is to prevent the widespread manipulation of mileage, which the Commission describes as “particularly concerning in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.”
Roadside inspections and remote sensing
To increase the efficiency of roadside checks, the Commission proposes that Member States make use of remote sensing technologies to measure noise and emissions before selecting vehicles for full inspection. As per DVZ, this would help inspectors target vehicles more likely to violate safety or environmental regulations.
The Commission also confirms that, regardless of the new measures, all heavy-duty vehicles must continue to undergo annual technical inspections from the date of first registration in all Member States.
IRU: “A long-overdue revision”
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has expressed cautious optimism.
“This long-overdue revision reflects how far commercial vehicles have evolved,” said Raluca Marian, Director of EU Advocacy at the IRU. “The smarter, more digital and updated rules will improve safety while reducing unnecessary burdens for companies.”
Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, described the legislative package as a major step forward:
“By modernising our roadworthiness rules, we are harnessing the latest technology, strengthening enforcement, and ensuring they keep pace with the evolving realities of mobility.”
The European Commission estimates that, if adopted, the proposals could save 7,000 lives and prevent 65,000 serious injuries between 2026 and 2050.
