Un'autocisterna impegnata su un'autostrada in inverno

Heavy goods traffic: controls in Switzerland despite the pandemic

Inspected in 2020 in Swiss territory 38,848 vehicles, including trucks, tractor-trailers, vans and buses, with 22,519 miscellaneous irregularities detected

In 2020 were inspected in the Swiss Confederation 138,848 heavy vehicles, including trucks, articulated vehicles, vans and buses, finding 22,519 irregularities; in 4,207 cases was triggered the detention.
This is the finding of the report, which was published for the first time jointly by the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) and the Federal Customs Administration (FCA). Due to the pandemic, fewer inspections were carried out than in the previous year.

Statistik der Schwerverkehrskontrollen 2016-2020
Statistique des contrôles du trafic lourd 2016-2020
Statistica dei controlli del traffico pesante 2016-2020

HGV inspections increase road safety, ensure better compliance with regulations and promote fair competition between road and rail.
For around 20 years, the cantons have been intensifying their mobile inspections on behalf of the federal government.
In 2020, in addition to their normal activities, the police authorities devoted a total of 91,572 hours to inspecting HGVs on the road.
96,169 hours were spent on inspections at roadside inspection centers (CCTP). In addition to cantonal inspections, customs authorities also carry out inspections of heavy goods vehicles entering and leaving Switzerland.

Un'autocisterna in azione sul Passo del Giulia in Svizzera

COVID: 70 to 80 percent less traffic at the Gotthard

During the first lockdown ordered in spring 2020, there was a significant decrease in heavy traffic; for example, 70 to 80 percent fewer trucks were running in the Gotthard tunnel at the end of March.
The sharp drop in traffic and the limited availability of the police, who were busy managing the health emergency, reduced checks, which were nevertheless carried out as normal in cases of suspected irregularities.
With the easing of restrictions in May 2020, inspections resumed, with enhanced protocols to protect employees.

Mezzi pesanti imbottigliati nel traffico in autostrada — HGVs stuck in traffic on motorways

Cantonal police on the attack in the seven control centers

In the seven control centers, a total of 28,020 trucks, tractor-trailers, vans and buses were checked last year, marking a decrease of 10.2 percent compared to the previous year.
Irregularities were detected for 1,623 Swiss vehicles and/or drivers (+0.8%) and 7,573 foreign (-15.3%), of which 339 (+4%) and 2,033 (-30.5%) were suspended respectively.
Police authorities also carry out “flying” controls, which in 2020 involved 57,041 vehicles (-6.9% compared to 2019). 6,049 Swiss vehicles or drivers (-2.4%) and 3,475 foreign (-11%) were found to be not in compliance; for 1,202 (-10.6%) and 633 (-19.9%) of these, respectively, a stop was ordered.

Bericht Schwerverkehrskontrollen 2020
Rapport – Contrôles du trafic lourd 2020
Controlli del traffico pesante – Rapporto 2020

Among the main items subject to irregularities, as in previous years, non-compliant dimensions and weights (9,263 infractions, -3% compared to 2019), technical defects (5,924, -10.1%) and non-compliance with work and rest times (3,315, -23.2%).
Thirty-four manipulations to exhaust systems were found, including AdBlue (-20.9%).
Note that multiple infractions may be detected for the same vehicle at the same time.

Un camion trasportato su un vagone cargo ferroviario — A truck transported on a railway cargo wagon

Customs authorities also operational on internal roads

In 2020, the FCA carried out roadside inspections on a total of 53,787 lorries, articulated vehicles, vans and coaches, imposing fines on 299 Swiss vehicles or drivers and 3,500 foreign vehicles or drivers.
The main irregularities found were: non-compliant dimensions and weights (3,306), technical defects (400) and non-compliance with working and rest times (300).
Again, multiple attributions are possible due to the presence of several discrepancies in the same vehicle.

Luci sull'autostrada A2 della Svizzera da nord a sud — Lights on Switzerland’s A2 motorway from north to south

New Ticino center operational from 2022 in Giornico

In October 2020, the foundation stone was laid for the facility (CCTP) in Giornico, on the site of the former Monteforno steelworks.
From 2022, when the new center in Ticino, the counterpart of the center in Ripshausen on the north side, will also be in operation, it will be possible to control heavy goods vehicles crossing the Gotthard in both directions.
Investment cost: about 250 million francs, including the construction of a new freeway junction.