Driver Safety Takes Centre Stage: ETF Marks Successful Driver Fatigue Action Day The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and its affiliates marked Driver Fatigue Action Day on June 21, 2025, as part of a broader series of successful coordinated actions carried out throughout the week and beyond. Trade unions across Europe organised activities to draw attention to one of the most pressing safety challenges in European road transport. News 25 Jun 2025
Every day is the longest day for drivers: ETF and ITF mark Drivers’ Fatigue Action Day on 21 June To mark the longest day of the year, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF), with the support of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), is once again shining a light on a crisis that doesn’t end with daylight: driver fatigue. On 21 June, ETF and its affiliates will organise coordinated actions across Europe to raise awareness of fatigue in road freight and passenger transport, and to call for safe rates for all drivers. Press Release 19 Jun 2025
ETF’s Reaction to EU Study on “Safe and Secure Parking Areas” A new EU-commissioned study on Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs), published on 11 April, puts professional drivers’ wellbeing at risk by recommending changes to the Mobility Package that would allow regular rest in vehicle cabins. Unions were not consulted at any stage of the process – a glaring omission that casts serious doubt on the credibility of the study. We reject its misleading conclusions and call on the European Commission to uphold the Mobility Package and protect drivers from a return to exploitative practices. Statement 17 Apr 2025
Hegelmann Group – New Evidence of Exploitation of Third-country Truck Drivers In a bold stand against exploitation, several Zimbabwean truck drivers employed by Hegelmann, a major European haulier, refused to continue work in January 2024, exposing severe labor abuses. Recruited with promises of fair wages, they faced unpaid salaries, inadequate living conditions, and demands to repay thousands of euros in alleged “costs.” Trade unions have stepped in to provide support—offering food, legal assistance, and safe accommodation—while flagging violations to authorities. News 20 Feb 2025
ETF Unites for the Second Annual European Day Against Driver Fatigue ETF hosted its second annual European Day Against Driver Fatigue. This day of action, held on the longest day of the year, continued the momentum built by the inaugural campaign in 2023, bringing attention to the critical issue of driver fatigue in the road transport sector. Coordinated with ETF affiliates across Europe, the event underscored the demanding conditions that professional drivers endure daily. News 24 Jun 2024