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Austria Extends Border Controls with Slovenia and Hungary Until November 2025

In accordance with the amendment to the regulation issued by the Austrian Federal Minister of the Interior, temporary border controls at the borders with the Republic of Slovenia and Hungary have been extended until November 11, 2025.

This is yet another decision to continue control measures at the internal borders of the Schengen Area, which – according to the authorities in Vienna – aims to enhance security and combat illegal migration. The regulation represents a formal amendment to the previously existing legal framework in this area and takes effect immediately.

Carriers and drivers should be prepared for possible document checks when crossing the Austrian borders with Slovenia and Hungary – including on the EU side.

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Bratislava closes the D1 to truck transit over 7.5 t – permanent restriction in force

A permanent traffic restriction has been introduced on the D1 motorway in Bratislava for heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. The ban applies to transit traffic and is in force in both directions on a key section of the route: from the Pečňa junction, along Einsteinova Street and the Harbor Bridge (Most Prístavný), up to Zlaté Piesky.

The restriction does not apply to local transport – vehicles loading or unloading within Bratislava or its immediate surroundings may still use this section of the motorway without limitation. The aim of the restriction is to relieve the Slovak capital’s city center from heavy transit traffic and improve urban traffic flow.

However, in practice, this means significant changes for transport companies, especially those involved in international freight passing through Slovakia. The D1 route through Bratislava is an important part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), connecting Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

Trucks transiting through Bratislava are obliged to use an alternative route, namely the southern bypass, which includes the D2, D4, and then reconnects to the D1. This applies in both east–west and west–east directions. Failure to comply with the new regulations may result in fines, so following the detour is not only a legal requirement but also crucial from an operational and economic standpoint.

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Czech hauliers call for the abolition of weekend truck driving bans

Czech transport companies are increasingly voicing concerns that the country’s current weekend bans on heavy goods vehicles are becoming a serious obstacle to their operations.

According to industry organisations, the existing regulations not only limit the competitiveness of domestic companies in the European market, but also generate tangible social and economic costs. In an official statement, they called for the complete abolition of these bans – at least on Fridays and Saturdays.

Experts argue that the current restrictions on truck traffic significantly reduce the competitiveness of Czech transport firms. Carriers from lower-cost Eastern European countries – not subject to similar limitations – can operate freely at times when Czech trucks are forced to remain idle. This creates an uneven playing field and leads to local hauliers being pushed out by foreign competition.

The driving ban also negatively affects the working conditions of drivers, especially those from Moravia. Many of them are forced to leave loaded vehicles parked near the borders to return home for the weekend, resulting not only in lost time but also posing a serious risk of cargo theft. This model of work discourages new entrants to the profession and worsens the existing driver shortage.

Weekend driving bans also have a negative impact on supply chains. Manufacturers and suppliers operating on a continuous basis – including industrial plants – often cannot receive deliveries on time. If they require goods from elsewhere in Europe to arrive by Monday morning, they must bear higher costs related to warehousing or scheduling deliveries earlier than usual.

The Czech transport sector is calling for the driving ban to be lifted, at least on Fridays and Saturdays. The arguments are clear: the restrictions undermine the competitiveness of the domestic transport industry, reduce the attractiveness of the driving profession, increase cargo security risks, and disrupt industrial operations.

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NEW summer transit restrictions on Austria’s A10 in the state of Salzburg

The authorities of the federal state of Salzburg are introducing temporary entry restrictions from the A10 motorway (Tauernautobahn) to several local and national roads. The new rules will apply throughout the summer, from July 4 to September 7, 2025, and aim to reduce transit traffic through small towns in the region.

The entry bans apply to trucks and passenger vehicles that do not have a destination in Austria – i.e. transit traffic that often uses local detours to bypass congestion on main routes. The restriction applies to vehicles exiting the A10 or turning back into local and national road networks. It applies exclusively to transit traffic. Only destination traffic within Austria and cyclists are exempt (indicated by the sign “ausgenommen Zielverkehr Österreich,” possibly with the “A” country symbol).

❌ Flachgau region – Salzburg surroundings

➔ Municipality of Anif
● B159 Salzachtal Straße (direction Hallein), at road km 0.0+4m
● Ahornstraße at the intersection with B160 – Berchtesgadener Straße (direction Niederalm)
● Neu-Anifer Straße at the intersection with B160 – Berchtesgadener Straße (direction Niederalm)
● Kirchenstraße at the intersection with B159 (direction Grödig)
● Schloss-Lasseregg-Straße at the intersection with B159 (direction Grödig)
Exemptions: cyclists and destination traffic within the state of Salzburg

➔ Municipality of Elsbethen
● L105 Halleiner Landesstraße, direction Hallein, at km 4.0–56m
Exemptions: cyclists and destination traffic within the state of Salzburg

➔ Municipality of Grödig
● Neue-Heimat-Straße at the intersection with B160 (direction Grödig town centre)
● Moosstraße after the intersection with Jagerbauernweg (direction Fürstenbrunn/Grödig)
● Access road to the Leube company (Gutrathbergweg), approx. km 1.8+20m B160 (direction Hallein)
Exemptions: cyclists and destination traffic to the municipalities of Grödig and Salzburg
● L104 Grödiger Landesstraße, road km 8.0+28m (direction Niederalm)
● L104 at the intersection with B160 (direction Grödig)
● L237 Glanegger Landesstraße at the intersection with Moosstraße (direction Fürstenbrunn)
● B160 at the Hangendenstein border crossing (direction Salzburg)
Exemptions: cyclists and destination traffic to the state of Salzburg

➔ Municipality of Großgmain
● L237 at the intersection with L114 (direction Fürstenbrunn)
– Sign: “Zufahrt Latschenwirt frei” followed by “ausgenommen Radfahrer / Ziel- oder Quellverkehr Land Salzburg”
● L114 at the Großgmain border crossing (direction Salzburg)

➔ Municipality of Wals-Siezenheim
● Viehhauser Straße at the intersection with Autobahnweg (direction Viehhausen)
● Lagerhausstraße and Edelweißstraße at intersections with B1 (direction Wals town centre)
● Schulstraße at the intersection with Kasernenstraße (direction Walserfeld)
● Grödigerweg at the intersection with B1 (direction Viehhausen)
● Josef-Hauthaler-Straße at the intersection with Laschenskystraße (direction Moosstraße)
● B1 Wiener Straße, km 312.074 (direction Salzburg)
Exemptions: cyclists and destination traffic to the municipality of Wals-Siezenheim and/or the state of Salzburg

❌ Tennengau region (Hallein district)

Entry bans from A10 motorway exits (Tauernautobahn), for transit traffic only:
● Exit Puch-Urstein (Exit 11) – carriageway toward Villach – to Urstein Süd roundabout
● Exit Puch-Urstein (Exit 11) – carriageway toward Salzburg – to Urstein Nord roundabout
● Exit Hallein (Exit 16) – both carriageways – to L107 road (Wiestalstraße roundabout)
● Exit Golling-Abtenau (Exit 28) – both carriageways – to B159 road
● Exit Kuchl (Exit 22) – to B159 at road km 14.356:
– Exit toward Hallein – sign on the right-hand side, at the center of the junction
– Exit toward Kuchl – sign on the right-hand island between directions

❌ Pongau region (St. Johann im Pongau district)

Entry bans except for destination traffic to Austria, apply at:
● Exit Werfen (Exit 43) – to B159
● Exit Pfarrwerfen-Werfen (Exit 44) – to L229 Werfenwenger Straße
● Exit Knoten Pongau (Exit 46) – via ramp A10;46;R5 to L276 Kreuzberg Straße
● Exit Lammertal-Hüttau (Exit 56) – to B166 Pass Gschütt Straße
● Exit Eben im Pongau (Exit 60) – to B99 Katschberg Straße
● Exit Altenmarkt im Pongau (Exit 63) – to B320 Ennstal Straße
● Exit Flachau (Exit 66) – to L230 (Flachau roundabout)
● Exit Flachauwinkl (Exit 74) – to Flachauwinkl municipal road

Additional restrictions: Entry from the turnaround lanes of the Landzeit rest area (Gasthof Nord and Süd):
● Near the Gasthofsiedlung housing estate
● In the industrial zone of Gasthof Süd

❌ Lungau region (Tamsweg district)

● Exit Zederhaus from the A10 – entry to L212 Zederhauser Straße
Restriction applies except for destination traffic to Austria
Sign: “Einfahrt verboten” (No entry) + additional sign “ausgenommen Zielverkehr Österreich” placed on the right-hand side of the ramp

The bans will be marked with the standard “Einfahrt verboten” (No entry) sign, accompanied by an information board reading “Except for destination traffic – Austria” (possibly including the country symbol “A”).
❗ The restrictions come into effect once the signage is installed and remain in force until removed.

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Bulgaria Introduces Temporary Truck Bans Due to Heatwave

Due to the extreme heat currently affecting Bulgaria, the country’s road authorities have decided to impose temporary traffic restrictions for trucks exceeding 20 tons in weight.

The restrictions will be in effect from Tuesday, June 24 to Friday, June 27, 2025, during afternoon hours, on selected road sections in the northern part of the country. The decision follows a long-standing Bulgarian practice of imposing such bans when air temperatures exceed 35°C. The aim is to protect the road surface from deformation and rutting, which could compromise road safety.

Bans will be enforced:

❌ From Tuesday, June 24 to Friday, June 27
❌ Between 13:00 and 21:00

Affected regions:

The traffic ban applies to nine northern regions of Bulgaria:
Ruse, Silistra, Razgrad, Targovishte, Shumen, Veliko Tarnovo, Pleven, Lovech, and Gabrovo.

List of restricted roads:

❌ Hemus Motorway: from km 310 to 375 (Shumen and Targovishte regions)
❌ Road I-2 (Ruse–Varna): sections in Ruse, Razgrad, and Shumen regions (km 12–146)
❌ Road I-3: from km 7 to 170 (Pleven, Lovech, Veliko Tarnovo regions)
❌ Road I-4 (Koritna–Shumen): passing through Lovech, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, and Shumen
❌ Road I-5 (Ruse–Gabrovo): km 6–115 (Ruse and Veliko Tarnovo regions)
❌ Road I-7 (Silistra–Shumen): within both regions
❌ Road II-55 (Debelets–Misyurkov Khan): in Veliko Tarnovo region

Exemptions from the ban:

The restriction does not apply to vehicles transporting:
✅ Perishable goods
✅ Special (tempered) cargo
✅ Live animals
✅ Dangerous goods

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Switzerland to Close A4 in Schaffhausen – Trucks to Be Stranded Due to German Public Holiday

In connection with the upcoming Feast of Corpus Christi, which will be observed in Germany on June 19, 2025, the Swiss authorities are preparing for a buildup of freight traffic at the southern border crossings.

The authorities of the canton of Schaffhausen, in cooperation with the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA), are setting up temporary waiting zones for heavy goods vehicles that will not be processed by German customs in Thayngen and Bargen. According to official announcements, trucks heading to Germany will be directed to specially designated parking areas near the customs terminals in Thayngen and Bargen. Once these areas reach full capacity, a section of the A4 motorway within the city of Schaffhausen will be utilized. The stretch between the Schweizersbild exit and Gemsgasse street will be completely closed in both directions and converted into an emergency waiting area. Should the number of vehicles continue to rise, a similar measure will be implemented for the A4 section between Gemsgasse and Mutzentäli (in the direction of Schaffhausen city center).

Trucks will be directed to the designated waiting areas using special signage. For north-south traffic (from the direction of Bargen), detours will be in place starting at the Schweizersbild exit. The disruptions are expected to last from the morning of Thursday, June 19, until midday Friday, June 20, 2025. Swiss authorities are urging passenger vehicle drivers to avoid the area and opt for alternative routes.

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Spain temporarily extends driving time for truck drivers after massive power outage

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility in Spain has approved a temporary regulation that relaxes the rules on driving time and rest periods for drivers engaged in road freight and passenger transport.

The blackout caused severe disruptions in the transport sector. Both freight and passenger transport operations were affected. Traffic congestion in several cities and communication issues prevented drivers from accessing essential information, such as which fuel stations were operating or how to contact their operations centers. The situation was further worsened by supply chain disruptions, which led to product shortages in commerce and a spike in transport demand the day after the outage.

In response, the Ministry has decided to introduce exemptions to allow professional drivers to manage their working and rest time more flexibly. The goal is to enable the completion of planned transport services without additional complications.

Changes for freight transport (in effect from April 28 to May 4, inclusive):

❌ Daily driving time extended from 9 to 11 hours
❌ Weekly driving time extended from 56 to 60 hours
❌ Fortnightly driving time extended from 90 to 96 hours
❌ Maximum uninterrupted driving time extended from 4.5 to 5 hours
❌ Minimum daily rest reduced from 11 to 9 hours
❌ Option to take two reduced weekly rest periods in a row (at least 24 hours each), provided they are compensated during the next full weekly rest; or to postpone the start of the weekly rest period beyond six consecutive 24-hour periods.

Changes for passenger transport (in effect from April 28 to April 30, inclusive):

❌ Daily driving time extended from 9 to 11 hours
❌ Maximum uninterrupted driving time extended from 4.5 to 5 hours
❌ Minimum daily rest reduced from 11 to 9 hours

The Ministry emphasizes that these measures are temporary and solely aimed at restoring the continuity of transport services in an exceptional situation.

Source: Spanish Ministry of Transport

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Night Closures of Mont Blanc and Fréjus Tunnels – Disruptions on the France–Italy Route

Drivers planning to travel across the Alps on the France–Italy route should prepare for significant disruptions. In June 2025, night closures and alternating (single-lane) traffic are scheduled in two key Alpine tunnels: Mont Blanc and Fréjus.

Mont Blanc Tunnel

The Mont Blanc Tunnel will be completely closed to traffic during night hours – from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. – on the following dates:
❌ June 17, 18, 19, 26, and 30, 2025
❌ Additionally, on June 25, alternating (single-lane) traffic will be in place inside the tunnel, which may cause delays and traffic disruptions.

Fréjus Tunnel

The Fréjus Tunnel will also be subject to restrictions. Complete closures are scheduled for:
❌ June 17 and 18, from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
❌ June 21, from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
❌ Alternating (single-lane) traffic will be in effect on June 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27, from 10:30 p.m. to 5:15 a.m.

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Hungary eases truck driving ban for Pentecost – night-time transit allowed

At the request of industry organizations, Hungarian authorities have decided to partially suspend the truck driving ban during night hours in order to ensure uninterrupted deliveries and meet increased demand during the long weekend.

The weekend driving restriction for heavy vehicles would normally apply for 48 consecutive hours during the Pentecost weekend. However, the ban will be partially lifted between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM the following day to allow overnight transit.

The truck driving ban will apply during the following hours:

❌ Sunday, June 8 – from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
❌ Monday, June 9 – from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM

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Austria: Truck traffic ban on Brenner Pass towards Italy on May 28

On Wednesday, May 28, from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, a temporary truck traffic ban will be in effect in Austria on one of the main routes from Germany to Italy via the Brenner Pass. The restriction is based on § 42 (3a) of the Austrian Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) and applies in particular to the A13 Brenner Autobahn.

According to this regulation, on May 28 between 7:00 and 22:00, trucks and vehicle combinations with a maximum permissible gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes are prohibited from driving. The same applies to trucks with trailers if the total weight also exceeds 7.5 tonnes.

The ban is directional and applies only to southbound traffic towards Italy, if the destination of the journey includes the section of the A13 between the Nößlach and Brenner Nord interchanges, which is the final stretch before the national border.

❌ The ban applies to the following motorways:
◾ A12 Inntal Autobahn,
◾ A13 Brenner Autobahn,
◾ A14 Rheintal/Walgau Autobahn,
provided that the destination includes the section of the A13 from Nößlach to Brenner Nord leading to the Italian border.

In practice, this means the restriction covers all trucks meeting the weight criteria that are traveling from Austria to Italy via the Brenner Pass.

The ban does not apply to:
◾ traffic in the opposite direction (from Italy to Austria),
◾ journeys that do not include the restricted final section of the A13.

This restriction is in force on selected days of the year, including May 28, due to anticipated high traffic volumes and the need to reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles on heavily used sections of the Austrian motorway network.

Exemptions from the ban

The following journeys are exempt from the ban:

Trips carried out exclusively for:
◾ the transport of livestock, postal shipments, newspapers, drinks to tourist areas, deliveries to fuel stations, restaurants or events,
◾ repairs to refrigeration systems, towing services, road assistance, disaster relief, medical care,
◾ vehicles of road maintenance companies or contracted vehicles, road traffic or railway construction,
◾ vehicles of public security services, fire brigades, waste collection, waste disposal, sewage treatment operations,
◾ regular public transport services, amusement rides, or transport for lighting and sound technicians traveling to and from work locations, journeys under § 42 (3a) StVO, as well as transports by trucks or articulated vehicles of Austrian or foreign armed forces present in Austria under the Federal Law Gazette I No. 57/2001, or aid transports by recognized relief organizations.

Transports carried out exclusively to or from civil airports (§ 64 of the Aviation Act) or military airfields used for civil aviation under § 62 (3) of the Aviation Act.

Combined rail-road or water-road freight transport: from the sender to the nearest technically suitable rail loading terminal or from the nearest suitable unloading terminal to the recipient, and return to the next loading location, provided that a fully completed document is carried, proving that the vehicle or its superstructure (e.g. swap body or container) has been or will be transported by rail.
The same applies analogously to combined water-road transport.

§ 42 ust. 3a StVO – Straßenverkehrsordnung