Heavy goods vehicle inspections in 2025: more stationary inspections, more technical complaints
Heavy goods vehicle inspections in Switzerland show a clear trend in 2025: while the number of vehicles inspected remains stable, in-depth stationary inspections and technical complaints are increasing significantly. The sharp rise in the number of delivery vans and cases of increased exhaust fumes opacity is particularly striking - an indication of growing safety and manipulation risks in the transport sector.
The aim of the checks is to ensure technical safety, detect breaches of regulations at an early stage and prevent distortions of competition in the transport industry. A total of 25,868 vehicles were inspected. In around 5500 cases, it was no longer permitted to continue the journey due to serious defects.
Stationary controls are gaining in importance
The increasing shift towards more in-depth checks in stationary heavy vehicle inspection centers is striking. In the nine control centers along the motorways, 55,244 vehicles were checked - an increase of nine percent compared to 2024.
The reason for this is the expansion of the infrastructure, including new centers at Oensingen and Giornico. Stationary checks enable more comprehensive technical inspections than mobile operations on the road.
At the same time, mobile police checks and checks by the Customs and Border Security Corps declined.
Greater focus on delivery vans
The number of vans checked increased particularly significantly. In the control centers, 5331 vehicles in this category were checked - 71 percent more than in the previous year.
1150 delivery vans were fined, in 324 cases they were banned from continuing their journey. This corresponds to an increase of 115 percent for serious violations.
Technical defects found much more frequently
For all vehicle categories combined, the number of technical complaints rose to 8282 cases, an increase of 18 percent.
The increase in exhaust fumes opacity was particularly strong: The number of such findings doubled from 177 to 365 cases.
A significant proportion of these involved vans. The authorities registered 149 cases there compared to just 19 in the previous year.
According to the authorities, increased emission values may indicate manipulation of exhaust gas aftertreatment systems or engine control systems. Such interventions create cost advantages for affected companies and have a negative impact on environmental and competitive standards.
Safety and market surveillance are intertwined
The figures show that heavy goods vehicle inspections are increasingly also fulfilling a market-regulating function. In addition to traditional safety aspects, technical manipulation and compliance with fair competitive conditions are becoming increasingly important.
Source: astra.admin.ch
