Mercedes‑Benz eActros electric truck driver cited for multiple tachograph violations in the Netherlands

Dutch police stopped a Mercedes‑Benz eActros 600 electric tractor‑unit in Waddinxveen after discovering extensive tachograph violations. The foreign driver had accumulated 25 infractions over the previous eight weeks, including a lack of a full 45‑hour weekly rest for almost two months and missing transport licence documentation. The transport company could not be located, prompting an investigation into the firm for breaching social‑security regulations. The driver was ordered to take a mandatory full weekly rest and was replaced by a substitute driver. The case highlights enforcement of driver‑hours rules as electric trucks become a larger share of the Dutch freight market.

The incident underscores the growing need for compliance monitoring in the expanding electric heavy‑vehicle sector, where operational practices such as powering refrigerated trailers from the truck’s battery add complexity to regulatory oversight.