by Disruptions on the Alpine route – closures of the Mount Blanc tunnel
Traffic in the tunnel will be completely suspended on from 10 PM on January 15 to 6 AM on January 16.
Night alternating one-way traffic restrictions are also scheduled between 10:30 PM and 6:00 AM on:
◾ January 16/17.
◾ January 17/18.
◾ January 18/19.
◾ January 22/23.
◾ January 23/24.
◾ January 24/25.
◾ January 25/26.
by UK is introducing new regulations, also for Polish carriers
From January 31, the UK will require an export health certificate (EHC). The requirement applies to mainly to live animals or animal products, but also to plants, fruit and vegetables.
The UK has repeatedly delayed introducing of customs checks on high-risk food imported from the EU. It has now been confirmed that from January 31, certain products from the EU, other EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Switzerland can continue to imported into the UK, provided they have received export health certificates (EHC).
“Brexit has complicated procedures for transporting goods, so it is necessary to follow changes in British law that affect exporters and importers from the EU, including Poland. The current certification procedure is the first step, which will be followed by physical inspections of food imported to the UK. This will require additional time spent at the border”, says Joanna Porath, owner of the AC Porath customs agency, specializing in customs services for the British market.
Health certificates
The biggest change concerna animal products. Health certificates will be required for meat products and any raw milk-based products.
“According to revised customs procedures introduced by the UK, all imported meat and dairy products require prior notification, and only heat-treated dairy products will not require a health certificate. According to other regulations, which are still in effect, imported animals and plants for planting always require health certificates and are subject to inspection”, says Steve Cock, Director of Customs Consultancy The Custom House Ltd.
As regards, fruit and vegetables from the EU, checks will be conducted depending on the risk category. i.e. low, medium and high. In most cases, they will not have to comply with UK trading standards or plant health regulations. However, the British government encourages carriers to check which goods imported into the UK will be subject to inspection. A detailed list of suchgoods can be found on the following pages:
Import risk categories for animal and animal product imports from the EU to Great Britain ⬅
by Austria prolong border controls
By virtue of an amendment to the regulation on the temporary reintroduction of border controls at internal borders with the Slovak Republic, published in the Federal Journal of Laws, Austria has prolonged controls along the border with Slovakia until February 2, 2024.
by Austria: Winter Saturday HGV driving bans in 2024
As in previous years, the Austrian Minister for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology has introduced additional winter Saturday driving bans for vehicles with a MAM of more than 7.5 t on the A 12 Inntalautobahn and the A 13 Brennerautobahn.
The ban applies on all Saturdays from January 13 to March 9, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
➡️ January 13, 20, 27
➡️February 3, 10, 17, 24
➡️ March 2, 9
The ban applies if the destination of the transport is located in Italy or in a country that can be reached via Italy, or in Germany or in a country that can be reached via Germany.
The following journeys are exempt from the driving bans mentioned in § 1:
1. Transports of slaughter cattle or livestock, mail items and periodicals, supplies of drinks to tourist areas, urgent deliveries to petrol stations, catering establishments and events or repairs of cooling systems, towing services, roadside assistance, assistance in emergencies, medical care, the use of vehicles by road maintenance companies or to maintain road traffic, in road or rail construction, the use of vehicles by public security services, fire brigades, the use of vehicles for garbage collection, waste disposal, to maintain the operation of water treatment plants or the use of vehicles by companies providing regular passenger transport services, as well as journeys of vehicles used by travelling carnivals (Section 2 (1) Z 42 KFG 1967), incl. teams of lighting and sound engineers travelling to and from the venue (Section 2 (1) Z 42 KFG 1967), journeys according to § 42 para. 3a StVO, urgent journeys involving trucks, articulated vehicles or trucks with trailers used by the Austrian armed forces or foreign troops staying in Austria by virtue of the Troop Residence Act, BGBI I No. 57/2001, or humanitarian aid transports performed by recognized organizations;
2. Journeys performed exclusively to transport goods to or from airports (Section 64 of the Aviation Act) or military airfields that are used for civil aviation purposes in accordance with Section 62 (3) of the Aviation Act;
3. Journeys involving combined rail-road freight transport from the consignor to the nearest technically suitable loading station or from the closest technically suitable unloading station to the consignee and back to the next loading station, provided that a fully completed document can be presented showing that the vehicle or its superstructures (swap bodies, containers) are to be transported by rail or have already been transported; this applies mutatis mutandis to combined water-road freight transport.
by Traffic disruptions for HGVs on motorways in Italy and Germany
The German A42 motorway has been closed in both directions because of damage detected in a bridge between the Bottrop-Süd and Essen-Nord junctions. The Italian Camelosa viaduct on the A4-A26 has also been closed to vehicles with a MAM of over 19 tonnes.
Germany
The A42 motorway has been closed in both directions because of damage detected in a bridge between the Bottrop-Süd and Essen-Nord junctions. Since there is too much diversion traffic on local routes, Autobahn GmbH asks drivers to use newly designated diversion routes (see the map below). The motorway section might be reopened to car traffic in spring 2024 but HGVs are not expected to be able to use it in the near future.
Italy
After a technical inspection of the structure of the Camelosa viaduct on the 15th kilometer of the A4/A5 Ivrea-Santhià motorway junction, a driving ban has been introduced for vehicles with a MAM above 19 tons on the section between the A4 – A26 Santhià junction and the Albiano d’Ivrea junction, in both directions. Maintenance works are to take place in mid-January, which will involve removing the road surface in the direction of Santhià. As a result, vehicles with a MAM above 3.5 tons will also be prohibited from using this section in both directions.
HGVs coming from the A4 motorway and the A26/A4 Stroppiana – Santhià junction and heading towards Aosta will be diverted to the A4 Turin – Milan motorway in the direction of Turin and on to the A5 Turin – Aosta motorway at the Settimo Torinese junction. HGVs coming from Aosta and heading for Milan/Alessandria/Genoa are advised to continue along the A5 Turin – Aosta motorway towards Turin to reach the A4 motorway to Milan and the A21 motorway to Alessandria and Genoa.
by Tirol: 24 days with limited cross-border HGV traffic in the 1st half of 2024
As in previous years, on specific days listed in the restriction schedule (below) HGV traffic from Germany at the Kufstein-Nord border crossing on the A12 Inntal motorway in the direction of Innsbruck will be limited to 300 lorries per hour.
The measure has been criticized by international organizations on a number of occassions, but so far to no avail.
Days with restrictions in the 1st half of 2024
➡ January 8 (Monday)
➡ February 5 (Monday)
➡ February 12 (Monday)
➡ February 19 (Monday)
➡ February 26 (Monday)
➡ March 4 (Monday)
➡ March 11 (Monday)
➡ March 28 (Thursday)
➡ April 26 (Friday)
➡ May 2 (Thursday)
➡ May 3 (Friday)
➡ May 6 (Monday)
➡ May 7 (Tuesday)
➡ May 8 (Wednesday)
➡ May 10 (Friday)
➡ May 17 (Friday)
➡ May 18 (Saturday)
➡ May 21 (Tuesday)
➡ May 22 (Wednesday)
➡ May 23 (Thursday)
➡ May 27 (Monday)
➡ May 28 (Tuesday)
➡ May 29 (Wednesday)
➡ May 31 (Friday).
by Slovakia: derogation from the HGV driving ban
At the request of ČESMAD Slovakia, the Slovakian Presidium of the Police Force of has granted a general exemption from the driving ban in connection with the upcoming holidays.
On the 24th, 25th, 26th of December, and on the 1st and 6th January 1 and 6, the derogation applies to all heavy goods vehicles traveling on motorways, roads for motor vehicles, 1st class roads and roads used by international traffic, entering Slovakia from certain neighbouring countries and bound for destinations (e.g. the company’s base or the place of unloading) located in Slovakia.
by Austria: driving bans on the A10 before Christmas
The driving ban for heavy goods vehicles with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 7.5 t will be in effect on Friday (December 22) and Saturday (December 23) on the following sections of A 10 motorway:
❌ on Friday, December 22, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
a) southbound carriageway (in the direction of Villach) between the Salzburg junction (A 10 / A 1) and the Pongau junction, if the destination is located in Italy or Slovenia or must be reached via Italy or Slovenia, and
b) northbound carriageway (in the direction of Salzburg) between the Rennweg junction and the Golling junction, if the destination is located in Germany or the Czech Republic or must be reached via Germany or the Czech Republic;
❌ on Saturday, December 23, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
a) southbound carriageway (in the direction of Villach) between the Salzburg junction (A 10 / A 1) and the Pongau junction, and
b) northbound carriageway (in the direction of Salzburg) between the Rennweg junction and the Golling junction.
The following journeys are exempt from the driving bans:
1. Transports of slaughter cattle or livestock, mail items and periodicals, supplies of drinks to tourist areas, urgent deliveries to petrol stations, catering establishments and events or repairs of cooling systems, towing services, roadside assistance, assistance in emergencies, medical care, the use of vehicles by road maintenance companies or to maintain road traffic, in road or rail construction, the use of vehicles by public security services, fire brigades, the use of vehicles for garbage collection, waste disposal, to maintain the operation of water treatment plants or the use of vehicles by companies providing regular services, as well as journeys of vehicles used by travelling carnivals (Section 2 (1) Z 42 KFG 1967), incl. teams of lighting and sound engineers travelling to and from the venue, journeys according to § 42 para. 3a StVO, urgent journeys involving lorries, articulated vehicles or trucks with trailers used by the Austrian armed forces or foreign troops staying in Austria by virtue of the Troop Residence Act, BGBI I No. 57/2001, or humanitarian aid transports performed by recognized organizations; journeys associated with the renovation of the tunnels on the A 10 motorway between the Golling and the Werden junctions, as well as and deliveries originating or terminating in the federal state of Salzburg;
2. Journeys carried out exclusively for the purpose of transporting of fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh milk and fresh milk products, fresh meat and fresh meat products, fresh fish and fresh fish products, live fish, eggs, fresh mushrooms, fresh baked goods and confectionery, fresh herbs, potted plants or cut flowers and ready-to-eat food preparations, as well as related empty or return journeys to transport packaging for the above-mentioned groups of goods. Drivers must carry a waybill or a cargo manifest. It must always be possible to check the loading status (quantity) at the beginning and during transport.
3. Journeys performed exclusively to transport goods to or from airports (Section 64 of the Aviation Act) or military airfields that are used for civil aviation purposes in accordance with Section 62 (3) of the Aviation Act;
4. Journeys involving combined rail-road freight transport from the consignor to the nearest technically suitable loading station or from the closest technically suitable unloading station to the recipient and back to the next loading station, provided that a fully completed document can be presented showing that the vehicle or its superstructures (swap bodies, containers) are to be transported by rail or have already been transported; this applies mutatis mutandis to combined water-road freight transport.
by Słowacja wprowadza świąteczno-noworoczne odstępstwo od zakazów
Na wniosek stowarzyszenia ČESMAD Slovakia Prezydium Policji Republiki Słowackiej przyznało zwolnienie z zakazu prowadzenia pojazdów.
W dniach 24, 25, 26 grudnia 2023 r. oraz 1 i 6 stycznia 2024 r. zwolnione z zakazów będą samochody ciężarowe poruszające się po autostradach, drogach dla pojazdów silnikowych, drogach klasy I oraz drogach dla ruchu międzynarodowego przyjeżdżających na terytorium Republiki Słowackiej z niektórych krajów sąsiadujących, których miejsce przeznaczenia (np. baza firmy lub miejsce rozładunku) znajduje się na terytorium Republiki Słowackiej.
by Controls at the border with Germany will continue for a few months
In an effort to combat people smuggling and limit illegal migration, Germany will continue temporary controls at the internal borders with Poland, Czechia and Switzerland until March 15, and with Austria – until May 11, 2024.
Nancy Faeser, Federal Minister of the Interior, said:
”The measures are paying off. Since mid-October, the federal police have arrested around 340 smugglers. Thanks to temporary border controls and measures undertaken by the neighboring countries, the number of unauthorized entries has dropped by over 60%, from over 20,000 in October to around 7,300 in November”.
Since October 16, the federal police have registered approximately 14,600 unauthorized entries and performed 7,100 interventions to prevent unauthorised entries or end illegal stays in the country. About 119,000 unauthorized entries have been recorded since the start of the year, compared to 92,000 last year.