A German haulier has been handed a whopping fine of 561,000 danish kroner (€75,400) for several offences – mainly for illegal cabotage tasks and failing to register posted workers. The company was ordered to pay the fine the very next day.
The multiple offences were detected following a lorry check on the island of Funen in Denmark last week. In the police’s own words, the German haulier “proved to have quite a bit on his conscience.”
The investigation found that the haulier was guilty of carrying out illegal cabotage tasks in 30 cases. The firm also failed to register transports in the Register of Foreign Transport Driving (UTIK) on 23 occasions.
In addition, the haulier was charged with cabotage conducted outwith the 7-day deadline, a lack of documentation for journeys made and for violation of the rules on special transport.
All in all, his offences resulted in a fine of DKK 561,000 (€75,400), which the haulier had to pay the next day.
As the Danish police add, a Danish company was also charged with illegal cabotage operations during the aforementioned check. On this occasion, the road transport company were fined DKK 285,000 (approx €38,000).
Hauliers have been obliged to register posted workers since January
As we have formerly reported, all carriers and hauliers, both Danish and foreign, have to pay their drivers DKK 164.96 (22.15 euros) an hour while they are working in Denmark. This includes cabotage operations.
In order to ensure compliance with the regulations, foreign companies that want to operate in the country have to report each transport service in advance to the Danish Commercial Authority online via a new system dedicated to foreign transport.
The service can be accessed here.
At the beginning of the year, Denmark provided a 3-month-long grace period to hauliers to learn how to use the system. However, the fine-free period came to an end on 31 March, and since then police have been strictly enforcing the regulations.
Photo credit @ politi.dk