The Toll Enforcement Service (MKD) of the Federal Office of Logistics and Mobility (BALM) plays a central role in the nationwide monitoring of truck tolls throughout Germany in accordance with the Act on the Levying of Distance-Related Charges for the Use of Federal Trunk Roads (BFStrMG). BALM's inspection mandate covers a wide range of inspection types, with the toll inspection service using around 320 specially equipped vehicles to carry out effective mobile inspections on the toll road network.
Automated toll control service thanks to OBU
Mobile enforcement takes place while the BALM is driving past the traffic subject to tolls in special vehicles. These vehicles are in turn equipped with an automatic toll collection unit, the so-called on-board unit (OBU). The OBU is then checked by BALM and your vehicles for readiness to collect and correct toll data. Vehicles without an OBU are checked by queries in the control system using the license plate number to determine whether a manual booking has been made and whether it is correct. If there are any doubts, the vehicle is diverted to the next parking lot, where a detailed check and any necessary measures are carried out.
In addition to the vehicles, the Federal Office of Logistics and Mobility uses automatic enforcement equipment such as enforcement pillars on federal highways or enforcement bridges on freeways. These permanently installed BALM devices automatically check vehicles for correct toll payment. In the event of violations, subsequent collection and administrative offense proceedings are initiated.
For their part, the automatic enforcement devices are also networked with the enforcement vehicles, which enables a spatially downstream inspection. In this case, information on potential toll violations is transmitted to the toll enforcement service and affected vehicles are diverted for further inspection. The enforcement staff carry out stationary checks at suitable locations or divert vehicles from the toll network during the journey.
These downstream inspections complete the procedures of the Federal Office of Logistics and Mobility. The comprehensive networking of all control procedures ensures nationwide coverage of the toll road network. Toll payers - whether with or without an OBU - can therefore expect an effective check at all times, which helps to ensure that the truck toll is paid correctly.
