ECG — 2024-10-04
News from ECG
Vehicle transporters operating on German territory are now subject to new guidelines regarding load securing. If the driver can’t demonstrate compliance there could be fines or the truck could be stopped from entering a plant.
The new policy concerns the revised VDI Guideline 2700, which was issued by the VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, the Association of German Engineers), with effect from 1 September 2024, and is applicable for all operations on German territory, regulates how vehicles should be secured on vehicle transporters.
According to VDI statutes, their guidelines are subject to periodic review. Following the publication of their Green Paper in 2023, the VDI Guideline 2700 had to be officially reviewed and published by September 2024 to meet arbitrary internal deadlines. VDI will now apply for the guideline to become a European standard, but that work will take 3-5 years.
While the VDI Guideline is not legally binding, the German Road Traffic Act (StVO) requires that the recognized rules of technology must be observed. As such, some police authorities may start to apply these rules immediately.
This new version of the guideline has raised several issues. The first one is already impacting operators and concerns the ability of transport companies to get the necessary certificates from the trailer manufacturers. According to the trailer manufacturers many thousands of trailers are affected, but so far less than half of them have been certified. Unfortunately, multiple bottlenecks are causing significant delays leaving many transporters uncertified for now.
Simon Jäckel, the project manager responsible for loading security at VDI, stated: “The standardization aims to publish general standards defining state-of-the-art; they don’t have transition periods since they are voluntary. Some police departments have decided that the standards should be followed from day one, and they may check on the German highways”. Asked to clarify, he explained that he had tried to confirm with VDI’s legal department whether the new standard is fully enforceable from Day One or if the previous version could still be considered valid for a transition period. The response was “That is a question only a judge can answer.”
Representatives from the specialized trailer manufacturers Kässbohrer, Lohr, RIMO and Rolfo said during the webinar that they are working as fast as possible to help all the service providers.
Why were these changes in the regulations made?
“The purpose of the new standards was to address the evolving challenges in vehicle transport and to ensure safety standards keep pace with modern technological developments. It wasn't primarily driven by a surge in reported accidents, but rather by the need to close gaps in the previous standards that had become apparent as transport conditions and vehicle technologies changed.” He continued: “For example, critical factors such as the friction between road elements and tyres were previously not considered. With vehicles, especially heavier electric cars and SUVs with larger tyres, being transported in increasingly complex configurations, such as stacked arrangements, it was essential to update the technical specifications to prevent potential risks. The new standards aim to ensure that the securing systems are robust enough to handle these new conditions, improving overall safety.”
The certification may be necessary, but must it be a massive administrative burden? Couldn’t it be done in any other way?
“While alternative approaches, such as self-certification or simplified procedures, might reduce the administrative load, they would likely compromise safety”, says Simon Jäckel, going on to say: “The goal of the new standards is to ensure maximum reliability, especially given the growing use of electric vehicles and big SUVs, which are heavier and impose greater demands on securing systems. The thorough certification process is seen as essential to prevent accidents and ensure long-term safety, despite the additional administrative burden it introduces.”
And what about trailers produced before 2012? Should they all be scrapped?
“The trailer manufacturers decided not to support trailers older than 2012. But the good news is that trailers produced before 2012 do not necessarily need to be scrapped, but they must comply with the new safety requirements if they are to continue operating in Germany”, says Simon Jäckel. “While the new standards set higher standards for securing systems, older trailers can still be used if they are retrofitted and certified to meet the updated regulations. For the certification, the owners should contact a certification body, like TÜV Süd.” He continued: “The focus is not on banning older trailers outright but on ensuring that all transport vehicles, regardless of their production year, meet the current safety standards. This might involve upgrades to securing systems or adjustments to load-bearing components to align with the new rules. If older trailers cannot be modified to comply with the regulations, then they may no longer be permitted for vehicle transport under the new standards. So, while trailers produced before 2012 are not automatically banned, they must undergo a thorough evaluation and possible adjustments to continue operating legally and safely in Germany.”
Summary
ECG has pleaded for an understanding from both the German authorities and the OEMs that the Logistics Service Providers need more time to comply with the new rules. ECG emphasizes that the VDI Guideline is not legally binding. Even though the previous VDI Guideline 2700 dates back to 2009, it has proven itself in terms of road safety over many years. The transport of heavy electric vehicles has also not caused any known safety-related issues under the previous guideline. ECG also criticizes the new additional administrative burden caused by the need for certifications, which incur extra costs but do not contribute to safety in any way.
ECG is gathering information about how the police are handling this situation and asks its members to report any issues they encounter either during police inspections or at loading and unloading places. Please use this form to report on any events which may occur.