by Hungary: Truck traffic ban on October 23 [UPDATE]
October 23 is one of the most important dates in Hungary’s history – the National Day of Hungary (Nemzeti ünnep). The holiday commemorates the 1956 revolution against the communist regime and the proclamation of the Third Republic of Hungary in 1989.
Update – October 21
At the request of the Hungarian Chamber of Transport Industry (MKFE), the Hungarian Ministry of Transport has decided to shorten the duration of the truck driving ban in connection with the national holiday on October 23, 2025. Thanks to the introduced changes, trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 7.5 tonnes will be allowed to operate during the night, and the ban will only take effect at 6:00 a.m. on the holiday.
Information as of October 20
On this occasion, a traffic ban for trucks over 7.5 tonnes GVW applies throughout the country. According to the regulations, between September 1 and June 30, the ban is in force:
⭕ from 22:00 to 24:00 on Saturdays and on the day before a public holiday,
⭕ from 00:00 to 22:00 on Sundays and on public holidays.
In practice, this means that this year drivers will have to start their rest period on Wednesday, October 22 at 22:00, and may resume driving on Thursday, October 23 at 22:00. It is important to note that during the ban, drivers are not allowed to return to the company’s base or the first unloading point from the national border, as this exemption applies only in July and August.
List of possible exemptions from the restrictions
❗ Additional exception for the winter season:
From November 4 to March 1, the restrictions do not apply to vehicles meeting the EURO 3 emission standard or higher, provided they are engaged in international transport.
by ❗ Hungary Shortens Truck Driving Ban on October 23
At the request of the Hungarian Chamber of Transport Industry (MKFE), the Hungarian Ministry of Transport has decided to shorten the duration of the truck driving ban in connection with the national holiday on October 23, 2025.
Thanks to the introduced changes, trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 7.5 tonnes will be allowed to operate during the night, and the ban will only take effect at 6:00 a.m. on the holiday. Previously, the restriction was planned to be in effect from Wednesday, October 22 at 10:00 p.m. until Thursday, October 23 at 10:00 p.m. The decision was made at the request of industry organizations, which called for greater flexibility in carrier operations and for ensuring the smooth functioning of supply chains.
Vehicles exempted from the restrictions include those transporting live animals, fresh milk and dairy products, fresh and frozen meat and meat products, fresh bread, perishable foodstuffs, eggs, fresh, raw, non-frozen, non-dried and unprocessed vegetables and fruits, cereals, as well as vehicles traveling empty between loading, unloading points, and their base.
❗ Trucks returning from abroad are not allowed to travel from the border to their base or first unloading point during the ban. This exemption only applies in July and August each year.
by Belgium: Night closures of the E25/E40 connection at the Burenville interchange
Drivers in Belgium face further disruptions. Due to renovation works on the bridge at interchange no. 33 Burenville, night closures of the E25/E40 connection have been introduced.
▪️ September 29/30 (22:00 – 05:00) – closure of the E25/E40 connection at the Burenville interchange in the direction of Luxembourg.
▪️ September 30/October 1 (22:00 – 05:00) – full closure in the direction of Brussels on the section from interchange no. 39 “Chênée” to interchange no. 35 “Avroy-Laveu.”
▪️ October 1/2 and October 2/3 (22:00 – 05:00) – in the direction of Luxembourg, closure of the connection at the Burenville interchange, and in the direction of Brussels, full closure from interchange no. 39 “Chênée” to interchange no. 35 “Avroy-Laveu.”
Detours have been designated for drivers. However, crossing the bridge at the Burenville interchange will remain possible with one lane open in each direction.
by German A59 closed for one year. Detours via A46, A3 and A57
Starting October 15, 2025, a major reconstruction project will begin on the A59 motorway in North Rhine-Westphalia. Due to the works, truck and passenger vehicle drivers will face significant traffic disruptions that are expected to last until the end of September 2026.
According to the operator of the German motorway network, from October 15 (9:00 p.m.), the A59 section between the Düsseldorf-Süd interchange and the Richrath exit will be closed. The next phase will start on October 20, when the remaining section between Richrath and Monheim will also be closed. The complete closure of the Düsseldorf-Süd – Monheim section will remain in place until September 30, 2026. After this phase, roadworks will continue on the carriageway towards Düsseldorf.
❌ During the construction period, detours will be set up via motorways A46, A3, A542, and A57 (alternatively A1). For local traffic, shorter detours along secondary roads will be marked on-site.
The A59 corridor is an important route in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area, connecting the southern outskirts of Düsseldorf with Cologne and Leverkusen. The long-term closure will require redirecting heavy truck traffic to the parallel corridors A3 and A57, which may lead to increased congestion on those routes.
by Spain: changes in driving and rest times for drivers from October 12 to 14
On October 13, 2025, the Directorate-General for Road Transport at the Spanish Ministry of Transport approved a resolution (to be published in the BOE) that temporarily exempts transport operations affected by the weather phenomenon DANA “Alice” from certain requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006.
The exemptions apply to freight and passenger transport operations carried out in the following territories:
❌ Región de Murcia
❌ Comunitat Valenciana
❌ Cataluña (Catalonia)
❌ Illes Balears (Balearic Islands)
Period of application
From 00:00 on Sunday, October 12, 2025, to 23:59 on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Temporary modifications of limits (Regulation 561/2006)
❌ Art. 6.1 – Maximum daily driving time: 11 h (instead of 9 h)
❌ Art. 6.2 – Maximum weekly driving time: 60 h (instead of 56 h)
❌ Art. 6.3 – Maximum driving time over two weeks: 96 h (instead of 90 h)
❌ Art. 8.1 – Daily rest: minimum 9 h (instead of 11 h)
❗Note: The resolution applies only to operations actually affected by DANA “Alice” in the above-mentioned autonomous communities.
by Slovak Carriers Renew Fight to Lift Truck Overtaking Ban
The association ČESMAD Slovakia has submitted to parliament a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Act, addressing the rules for overtaking by trucks over 7.5 tonnes on motorways. The aim of the proposal is to introduce clear and safe regulations defining when truck drivers may legally perform an overtaking maneuver.
The initiative has been championed for several years by the Union of Road Hauliers of Slovakia (UNAS), which already in 2023 called for the abolition of the total overtaking ban imposed by the government of Igor Matovič. According to UNAS, the current regulations are impractical and harmful — both to traffic flow and to safety on Slovak motorways.
Under the proposal prepared jointly by UNAS and the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, overtaking would be permitted only during specific hours or on sections of road marked with appropriate traffic signs.
UNAS recalls that the first version of the bill was submitted to parliament back in 2023, but was rejected by a single vote. The decisive votes came from MP and current Minister of Economy Denisa Saková (Hlas party) and several parliamentarians from the Sme rodina party, which was then part of the governing coalition.
Now, ČESMAD Slovakia has once again submitted the amendment, emphasizing — as UNAS points out — the need to align Slovak legislation with the practices in other EU member states. In most European countries, trucks are allowed to overtake under clearly defined conditions, ensuring a balance between safety and traffic fluidity.
The organization also stresses that the Slovak transport sector is increasingly burdened by political decisions, including rising taxes, additional transaction fees, and an inefficient toll collection system. UNAS urges lawmakers to take into account both road safety and the real economic impact on carriers when drafting new transport regulations.
by Duisburg: Bridge Demolition and Closure of the A40 Motorway
Truck drivers traveling through western Germany face further disruptions. Autobahn GmbH Rheinland has announced a full closure of the A40 motorway on the section between the Duisburg interchange and the Duisburg-Kaiserberg exit from Friday, 17 October (from 21:00) to Monday, 20 October (until 05:00).
The closure affects both directions of traffic, and detours will be properly signposted. During the weekend closure at the Kaiserberg interchange, an old bridge connecting the A40 towards Venlo with the A3 will be demolished. Due to the close proximity of the connecting ramps, some of these ramps will also be closed.
Closed Connections
The following connections will be unavailable:
– A40 towards Essen → A3 towards Arnhem
– A3 (both towards Cologne and Arnhem) → A40 towards Venlo. These closures are necessary because the scaffolding for the new A3 bridge is being dismantled in this area.
Long-term Closures (until mid-2027)
– A40 → Venlo → A3 → Cologne
– A40 → Essen → A3 → Cologne
Open Connections (including during the weekend closure 17-20 October 2025)
During the demolition work, some routes at the Kaiserberg interchange will remain accessible both over the weekend and in the following months of modernization (until mid-2027).
The following connections will remain open:
▫️ A40 → Venlo → A3 → Arnhem (via temporary ramp)
▫️ A3 → Cologne → A40 → Essen
▫️ A3 → Arnhem → A40 → Essen
▫️ Duisburg-Kaiserberg exit in both directions
The Duisburg-Kaiserberg interchange connects the A3 and A40 motorways, two of the busiest routes in Germany. The existing infrastructure dates back to the 1960s and no longer meets the requirements of modern traffic. For this reason, Autobahn GmbH is conducting a comprehensive modernization of the interchange, which includes: construction of new bridges and ramps, widening of carriageways, and installation of modern noise barriers.
by Norway relaxes regulations for truck drivers after landslide on E6 route
Following a landslide in Levanger, Norway, which blocked a key section of the E6 transport route, authorities have introduced extraordinary measures for hauliers. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has issued a temporary exemption from driving and rest time regulations to reduce the impact of long delays caused by detours.
rucks up to 50 tons may use local road 755, while modular combinations must take an alternative route through Sweden via the E14, significantly extending transport time. Therefore, from August 30 to September 6, 2025 (or until the E6 reopens), the following modified limits apply:
❌ daily driving time extended to 10 hours (instead of 9),
❌ weekly to 60 hours (instead of 56),
❌ and within two weeks to 100 hours (instead of 90).
Drivers may also take up to five reduced daily rests between two weekly breaks (previously only three were allowed).
Additionally, to ensure the smooth flow of goods, the Swedish Customs Authority has introduced simplified procedures for goods destined for the Norwegian market. Until September 3, it is possible to use the designated route via E14 Storlien and road 322/FV72 to Verdal, without loading, unloading, or stopping on Swedish territory. Authorities stress that these measures are temporary and aim to maintain supply chain continuity in the face of unexpected disruptions.
Source: Norwegian Public Roads Administration
by Austria: Night-time closures of the Arlberg Tunnel from 22 September this year
The Arlberg Tunnel on Austria’s S16 road will be completely closed due to maintenance works from Monday, 22 September to Friday, 26 September 2025, each night between 20:00 and 04:00.
During this period, traffic will be diverted via the B197 Arlbergstraße, between the junction with the S16 and the national border at the Arlberg Pass. To ensure smooth traffic flow, the ban on motor vehicles with trailers, which normally applies to this section, will be lifted for the duration of the maintenance works.
by Belgium: Night closures of the E25/E40 connection at the Burenville interchange
Drivers in Belgium face further disruptions. Due to renovation works on the bridge at interchange no. 33 Burenville, night closures of the E25/E40 connection have been introduced.
▪️ September 29/30 (22:00 – 05:00) – closure of the E25/E40 connection at the Burenville interchange in the direction of Luxembourg.
▪️ September 30/October 1 (22:00 – 05:00) – full closure in the direction of Brussels on the section from interchange no. 39 “Chênée” to interchange no. 35 “Avroy-Laveu.”
▪️ October 1/2 and October 2/3 (22:00 – 05:00) – in the direction of Luxembourg, closure of the connection at the Burenville interchange, and in the direction of Brussels, full closure from interchange no. 39 “Chênée” to interchange no. 35 “Avroy-Laveu.”
Detours have been designated for drivers. However, crossing the bridge at the Burenville interchange will remain possible with one lane open in each direction.