— 2026-07-03
News from ECG
The ECG Health & Safety Working Group brought together industry professionals on 2 July for a webinar presenting the findings of the 2025 Incident Report, offering members the opportunity to review the latest safety trends across Finished Vehicle Logistics (FVL) and discuss how the industry can continue improving Health & Safety standards.
The webinar opened with Johannes Alexander Hödlmayr, CEO of Hödlmayr International, who stressed the importance of fostering a strong reporting culture across the sector. He encouraged members to continue reporting incidents and near misses, highlighting that sharing experiences is essential to preventing future accidents and driving continuous improvement throughout the industry.
Filippo Griffi, ECG Senior Project Manager, presented the results of the 2025 Incident Report, which consolidates 91 incidents reported by ECG members across 15 European countries through the Online Incident Reporting platform. Submitted by both LSPs and OEMs, the report covers the full spectrum of FVL operations, from loading and unloading activities to yard maneuvering and road transport.
Beyond presenting the report, the webinar generated an engaging discussion among participants on the future of Health & Safety within the FVL sector. The security of truck parking areas emerged as one of the main concerns, together with the need for ECG to continue engaging with the European Parliament on health, safety and security legislation affecting our Industry. Participants also shared their views on how to address the still relevant issue of unsafe vehicle loading/unloading at dealerships.
In the end, food for thought for our Working Groups and high level of engagement from our members.
REPORT’S INSIGHTS
The report confirms that loading and unloading operations remain the industry's highest-frequency risk area, accounting for 51 of the 91 reported incidents. Within this category, Slip, Trip and Fall continues to be the most common incident type, particularly during work on trailer decks and superstructures, where even falls from relatively low heights can result in serious injuries.
Across all operational contexts, collisions remain the most frequently reported incident, with 26 cases, underlining the importance of maintaining high safety standards both in yards and on public roads. The report also identifies recurring risks related to vehicle roll-offs, falls from height, equipment failures and transport fires, providing valuable insight into where preventive action should be focused.
One encouraging finding is the industry's commitment to reporting. Sixty per cent of all reported incidents were classified as Near Misses, demonstrating an increasingly proactive safety culture. At the same time, the report serves as a reminder that road transport continues to represent the highest-consequence risk. The two fatalities recorded in 2025 both occurred during transport operations, reinforcing the importance of defensive driving, fatigue management and continuous investment in driver safety.
ECG would like to thank all members who contributed to the 2025 Incident Report by submitting incidents through the Online Incident Reporting platform. Every report, whether a serious accident or a near miss, helps identify emerging risks, strengthen industry guidelines and improve safety.
Members are encouraged to continue reporting incidents and sharing suggestions for further improving Health & Safety across the industry.
Missed the webinar? Watch the recording here and access the presentation here.
You can access the Online Incident Reporting platform here.