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A complete closure of the bridge on the border between Romania and Bulgaria

The road-rail bridge over the Danube connecting Giurgiu (Romania) and Ruse (Bulgaria) will be closed on March 27, starting from 9:00 AM. During the closure is required to enable concreting spaces between new road panels.

The bridge will be reopened to car traffic the same day at 12:00, but drivers of HGVs will have to wait until 9:00 AM on March 28. All drivers are advised to plan their route in advance to avoid traffic jams and long waits near the bridge.

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A nighttime closure of the A12 in both directions – a diversion via Innsbruck

As part of a major renovation of the A12 motorway in the Inn Valley, the bridge over the motorway between Hall-West and Innsbruck-East will be demolished on Saturday, March 22.

As a result, the A12 motorway will be closed in both directions from 8:00 p.m. to around 6:00 a.m. Traffic will be diverted through the city of Innsbruck.

The demolition work has been deliberately scheduled to take place during the weekend night so as to benefit from low traffic intensity, and will be carried out with the help of enough resources to ensure it can be completed overnight. The bridge over the motorway near Ampass/Peerhöfe will be rebuilt by the end of the year.

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Belgium: disruptions in the Liefkenshoek and Bevrijdings tunnels

Drivers travelling through Belgium must be ready for disruptions in the Liefkenshoek and Bevrijdings (A12) tunnels in Wilrijk, which are connected with maintenance and repair work.

⏺️ Liefkenshoek

Maintenance work is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21.
➡ On March 20, the tunnel will be closed in the direction of Ghent/Beveren, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
➡ On March 21, the tunnel will be closed in the direction of the Netherlands/Stabroek, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Diversion routes
Signed diversion routes will be available during the closures.

⏺️ Bevrijdings

The resurfacing of the Bevrijdings tunnel (A12) in Wilrijk will start on Monday, 24 March and will last for four nights.
➡ the road in the direction of Brussels will be closed on the night from March 24 to 25 and from March 25 to 26, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
➡ the road in the direction of Antwerp: on the night from March 26 to 27 and from March 27 to 28, also from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Traffic will be diverted via Antwerpen-Zuid – Vogelzanglaan – Jan van Rijswijcklaan/Boomsesteenweg (N177).

During the closure of the tunnel road in the direction of Brussels, no diversion will be possible via Craeybeckx Tunnel owing to extensive maintenance work, which has been carried out in the tunnel since the beginning of the year, which also takes place between 9pm and 5am.

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Drivers work schedule – which one really pays off? The answer is not obvious

Every professional driver knows that the work schedule is a key aspect of everyday functioning. In addition to having an impact on the earnings, it also affects the driver’s health, family life and overall work satisfaction. Drivers’ preferences vary opinions, which is why we decided to ask them: which work schedule is the best? The results of our survey involving 273 respondents show that the answer is not straightforward.

The survey included questions concerning:
1. Preferred work schedule
2. Factors that determining the choice of a particular work schedule
3. The pros and cons of different work schedules.

The most popular work schedules

The 2/2 schedule turned out to be the most popular schedule and was chosen by as many as 108 respondents. The next most popular option is 2/1 (60 respondents), followed by 3/1 (13 respondents), 4/2 (12 respondents) and 3/2 (11 respondents).
Other schedule options included 4/1, 6/2, 8/2 and 4/2.

The survey indicates that most drivers prefer three work schedules:

✅ 2/2 schedule (2 weeks of work, 2 weeks off) – chosen by 108 respondents

While it was the most popular schedule system, it is not free from disadvantages, but more on that in a moment. The 2/2 schedule is particularly favoured by drivers with families who value the possibility of returning home regularly. It provides an ideal balance between work and private life. During two weeks off, drivers can fully regenerate, take care of their health, spend time with their loved ones and take their time (!) catching up with things that had accumulated while they were aways. In addition, this schedule reduces the risk of burnout, which is crucial from the perspective of road safety.

However, this schedule has its drawbacks. The main one are lower earnings: shorter working hours per month mean lower pay compared to other work schedules. Additionally, not every company offers this option, and if they do, it is often only available on selected routes. After a two-week break, some drivers may have difficulty returning to their work routine, which can be frustrating.

✅ The 2/1 schedule (2 weeks of work, 1 week off): selected by 13 respondents

The 2/1 schedule is a solution that is considered to a perfect tradeoff between earnings and time spent with the family. Compared to the 2/2 schedule, it tends to be associated with higher earnings, as more days of work per month result in higher wages. Despite shorter breaks, drivers appreciate more frequent returns home. A constant work rhythm has its advantages – a week of rest is usually sufficient to regenerate. But sometimes, after two weeks of intensive driving, one (sometimes incomplete) week off may not be enough to recharge the batteries. Drivers note that in practice this system can be demanding on family life.

✅ The 3/1 schedule (3 weeks on, 1 week off): selected by 12 respondents

This main advantage of this schedule are higher earnings: the more time spent on the road, the higher the pay, which is the most important point in favour of this solution for many drivers. Some prefer longer trips because they are less stressed about returning quickly and planning their rest. But this also comes at a price – for drivers with families, long separations can be difficult, and a week off after three weeks of work is often not enough to fully regenerate. Also, many drivers are aware of the risk of burnout.

Drivers comments

To illustrate these general results, we provide the most frequently repeated opinions, as well as those reported by individual drivers, as well as important issues related to structural problems in the transport industry.

Most frequently repeated answers:

◾ ”More often at home for longer” – many drivers emphasized that regular and longer stays at home enable them to rest and spend time with their families.
◾ ”The right work-life balance” – drivers pointed out that particular schedules (e.g. 2/1) give them a chance to rest and function normally off the road.
◾ ”Less fatigue”
◾ ”Better quality of life”

Answers that appeared only once:

◾ ”Driving only at night – fewer traffic jams and less stress on the route”
◾ ”Only short routes because I don’t want to sleep in the cabin”
◾ ”I don’t have a family, so I prefer longer routes and higher earnings”
◾ ”The longer I’m on the road, the better, because I don’t like sitting at home”
◾ ”Flexible hours, no rigid schedule”

Drivers problems

◾ Lack of suitable parking spaces: the lack of safe and well-equipped parking lots is a big problem, especially for drivers on international routes.
◾ Pressure to break the rules: despite increasingly stringent regulations, drivers still feel the pressure to exceed working time standards.
◾ The impact of work on private life: long trips and an irregular lifestyle often lead to family problems and even divorce.

So which schedule is the best?

There is no ideal work schedule – it all depends on your priorities. The 2/2 schedule is preferred for its optimum work-life balance – drivers emphasize that the even split between time spent at work and free time results in better professional efficiency and stronger family ties. The 2/1 schedule, while offering less time to regenerate, is associated with higher wages, which makes it an attractive choice for those who want to earn more without sacrificing their leisure time too much. For many drivers, however, the most valuable and desirable solution is the possibility of returning home every day, which guarantees stability.

As already noted, each of the most popular schedules has its drawbacks. Less balanced schedules, such as 3/1 or 4/1, despite higher wages, mean long-term separation from the damily, fatigue and mental strain. The possibility of daily returns, while ensuring stability, is associated with lower wages compared to what drivers can earn on international routes. Additionally, some drivers indicate that the 2/2 schedule – despite its undeniable advantages – may be less attractive financially compared to the 2/1 model.

The survey clearly shows that drivers are no longer satisfied only with high wages and that mental comfort and time to rest are also important. Employers who understand this can better tailor their work conditions to their needs. The results of the study provide valuable inisghts for transport companies and for drivers, who want to choose the schedule that best works for them.

More job offers than applicants – the job market in 2024

In 2024, the job market for drivers was full of opportunities, but also challenges. Our website section dedicated to employment opportunities job etransport.pl , featured 3,026 ads from drivers looking for work, while employers posted as many as 7,380 offers for drivers. In other words, the demand for drivers continued to exceeds the number of available applicants. In addition, we posted 8,609 ads for positions of dispatchers, freight forwarders or carriers, which shows that the transport industry is developing in various directions. 292 of all offers were sponsored ads (ads for drivers and offers of cooperation for carriers).

All these numbers reflect an continuing demand for drivers and the dynamically changing market that tries to respond to various needs. A flexible approach to organizing working time not only improves drivers’ quality of life, but can also bring benefits to transport companies by helping them maintain the loyalty and satisfaction of their employees.

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Catalonia introduces restrictions for trucks with mega and duo-trailers

Information about the restrictions were published in the Official Journal of Catalonia. The ordinance introduces restrictions for trucks with mega and duo-trailer vehicles and lifts permanent restrictions on all roads with difficulties in traffic management, with the exception of the C-153 in Olot. The list of vehicles exempt from the restrictions has also been extended.

On certain days, such as Easter, restrictions apply to more roads. Restrictions have been planned on the AP-7 motorway, e.g. during the weekend of 30 May to 1 June due to the organisation of a motorcycle race in Montmeló; on the feast of St. John during the “long weekend” of 24 June and on Monday, 8 December.

Driving ban for vehicle combinations with mega and double trailers

The movement of vehicle combinations with mega and double trailers is generally prohibited on public holidays, weekends, Friday afternoons and evenings preceding public holidays. On Friday afternoons and the day before public holidays, the ban applies from 3:00 PM to midnight. Vvehicles authorised to drive with two trailers will always have to use the right-hand lane and will not be allowed to overtake.
During the summer period (from 16 June to 11 September), on Sundays and public holidays, vehicle combinations with mega and double trailers are not allowed to drive on the regular sections of the access roads to the Costa Brava: C-253, C-35, C-63, GI-681 and GI-682, although this year other trucks are allowed to use these roads.

Restrictions and the obligation to use the right-hand lane on the AP-7, A-2 and on roads with an additional lane:
– Where restrictions apply as specified in the conditions below, trucks and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must not exceed the maximum speed of 80 km/h.
– Vehicles authorised to drive with two semi-trailers will always have to use the right-hand lane and will not be allowed to overtake.
– Every Friday and Sunday afternoon (from 5:00 PM to 10pm) and Saturday morning (from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM), trucks and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must use the right-hand lane of the AP-7 motorway between Sant Celoni (km 111) and Vilafranca del Penedès (km 200), in both directions of travel.

– The above restriction applies on the following dates:
• Holy Week: Maundy Thursday 17.04, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Good Friday 18.04, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and Easter Monday 21.04, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
• Thursday, May 1, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Friday before Pentecost, June 6, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Saturday, June 7, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM;
• Monday, June 9, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• St. John’s Day, Monday, June 23, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Tuesday, June 24, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• National Day of Catalonia, Thursday, November 9, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday, 5.12, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Sunday, 7.12, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM;
• Monday, 08.12, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
– Every Sunday from 5.01 to 13.04 and from 7.12 to 28.12 in the afternoon (from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM), heavy goods vehicles and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must use the right lane of the A-2 motorway between Igualada (km 550) and Martorell (km 586), in the direction of Barcelona.
– The roads where an additional lane has been created in the opposite direction, can only be used by light vehicles and motorcycles, which means that other vehicles, including cars with trailers, are not allowed to drive there. On both roads, outside the additional lane, heavy goods vehicles and buses with a GVW of 7,500 kilograms or more must not drive faster than 80 km/h and are not allowed to overtake in any direction, while light vehicles and motorcycles must not drive faster than 100 km/h.

Reduction in the number of roads with permanent restrictions and management difficulties

The following roads have been removed from the list of roads with permanent restrictions, which apply to heavy goods vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tonnes, vehicles subject to special transport regimes and special vehicles:
• Road C-35 (between Maçanet de la Selva and Massanes)
• Road C-152 (between La Vall d’en Bas and Olot); C-26 (between Ripoll and Cercs)
• C-37 road (between El Pla de Santa Maria and Santa Margarida de Montbui).
The permanent restriction applies only on the C-153 road, from km 60.9 to km 61.9 in Olot.
Permanent restrictions are retained on the following roads (due to heavy goods traffic):
– N-II km 773.5 in La Jonquera to km 709.0 in Fornells.
– N-240 km. 87.4 in Lleida to km. 36.5 in Montblanc.
– N-340 km. 1058.4 in Alcanar to km. 1122.0 in L’Hospitalet de l’Infant.
– N-340 km. 1176.4 in Altafulla to km. 1209.5 in Vilafranca del Penedès.

New exemptions

New exemptions from driving restrictions have been introduced that apply to vehicles or vehicle combinations used for transporting the following products: eggs; dishes that must be kept warm; flowers, cut and potted plants; honey; dressed carcasses; fermenting or hygroscopic products; medicines or medical devices, which must be refrigerated or kept at a specific temperature. In addition, with regard to the transport of animal feed and raw materials for its production, in 2025 the exemption also applies to vehicles supplying feed factories.

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Weekend Traffic Disruptions on the Route to the Netherlands – No Passage Through Beveren and Tijsmans Tunnels

This coming weekend, drivers should prepare for major traffic disruptions on the route to the Netherlands. From Friday evening to Monday morning, the Beveren and Tijsmans tunnels in Belgium will be completely closed due to roadworks. This may significantly impact traffic in the area, particularly near the Liefkenshoek Tunnel.

From Friday, February 14, 2025, at 8:00 PM to Monday, February 17, 2025, at 5:00 AM, the Belgian Agency for Roads and Traffic will carry out urgent maintenance work in the Beveren and Tijsmans tunnels in the direction of the Netherlands. As a result, both tunnels will be fully closed, which could severely disrupt transit traffic in the region.

Impact on Traffic and Alternative Routes
The closures will affect access to the Liefkenshoek Tunnel, which will be the only alternative route towards the Netherlands. Drivers should expect heavy traffic and potential congestion on detour routes.

Recommended Detours

For trucks and passenger vehicles traveling towards the Netherlands, the following detours are suggested:
⏺️ Via the Liefkenshoek Tunnel – Heavy traffic expected; it is advisable to plan ahead or consider other alternatives.
⏺️ Via the E17 motorway towards Ghent.
⏺️ Via the Antwerp Ring Road (R1) – Expect possible delays.

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Slovenia: complete closure of the A1 motorway and and narrowed lanes on the A1, A2, A4 and A5

In the coming days, drivers in Slovenia can expect disruptions on the A1, A2, A4 and A5 motorways, which include complete closures, alternating traffic and lane narrowing.

Complete closure of the A1

The the A1 motorway between Brezovica and Vrhnika will be completely closed in both directions during three nights (10:00 PM to 4:00 AM) from Tuesday, 11 February to Friday, 14 February. A diversion route has been designated along a regional road. Additionally, work will be carried out on the emergency lane along the Kozina – Črni Kal section until early March.

Roadworks on the A1

Modernisation of the emergency lanes along the Arja Vas – Domžale section will continue until 16 February. As a result, single-lane traffic will be introduced on the following dates:
• 12 February (Wednesday) between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM on the Blagovica – Krtina section towards Maribor,
• 13 February (Thursday) between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM towards Ljubljana,
• 16 February (Sunday) between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM on the Trojane – Blagovica section towards Ljubljana.
Additionally, until 14 February, single-lane traffic will be in place between the Dragučova junction and the Maribor East exit towards Ljubljana.

Single-lane traffic on the A2

• On Wednesday, February 12, there will be single-lane traffic on the Trebnje West and Trebnje East sections. Between the Bič and Trebnje West exits towards Obrežje, traffic will be conducted along two narrowed lanes – the works are scheduled to be completed in early April.
• Delays can also be expected in the Karawanki tunnel – on the night of February 11 to 12 (Tuesday/Wednesday), as a result of alternating traffic between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
Roadworks on the A4 and A5
• There will be singler-lane traffic on various sections of the A5 until February 14, including: between the Sveta Trojica – Lenart – Pernica exits, and on 11-13 February on the Cerkvenjak – Sveti Jurij, Vučja Vas – Murska Sobota and Lipovci – Turnišče – Lendava – Pince.
• On the A4, work will be carried out daily on the Slivnica – Draženci, Draženci – Most Puh and Draženci – Gruškovje section until 14 February.

Closures of regional road

Traffic disruptions will also affect local roads.
The Vavta Vas – Dolenjske Toplice – Podturn regional road in Dolenjske Toplice will be closed until 1 April due to the reconstruction of the bridge. A diversion has been created via Dolenjske Toplice – Straža – Soteska – Podturn.

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An Austrian industry association wants an end to the night-time HGV driving ban

The new Austrian government has announced a programme of measures that takes into account a number of demands voiced by the freight transport industry. According to industry representatives, this is a long-awaited for of real support for transport companies.

A new government is always an opportunity for changes in the freight transport industry. That is why we welcome the first important measures included in the government programme said Markus Fischer, head of the freight transport industry association at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

The program takes into account continuing demands, especially regarding technological neutrality. This is the only way to create the necessary enabling conditions in the interests of all parties involved. Measures are needed to reduce traffic on secondary roads generated by hevicles trying to avoid traffic jams on the main routes and thus reduce CO₂ emissions; it is also necessary to support the continuous development of alternative fuels such as HVO100 and the charging infrastructure.
The transport industry welcomes the end of the standard CO₂-based tax (NoVA) for trucks (N1) and small trucks, as well as the increase in the dead weight limit for electric vans.

After years of lobbying, it is encouraging to see that the new federal government wants to rectify the mistakes of its predecessors explains Katarina Pokorny, spokesperson for the sector of small transport companies at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

Despite these positive signals, the new government still has a lot to do. Fischer sees an urgent need to clarify the issue of ASFINAG’s financing.

Ensuring sustainable financing and thus infrastructure is in the interest of all parties involved, but this must not be done at the expense of freight transport by further toll increases warns Fischer.

Fischer is also critical of the slot system and new ways of limiting the HGV traffic. These measures lead to further reductions in throughput and often cause traffic disruptions and traffic jams that stretch for miles. Driving bans will not solve the problem. That’s why Fischer is calling for the abolition of the night-time driving ban, which would relieve rush-hour traffic and improve the flow of transport. Similar problems can also result from excessive inspections of heavy goods vehicles. It is important that the enforcement agencies act with moderation and strive for dialogue with the industry. Instead, inspections should focus on protecting the domestic market from illegal foreign competition.

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Watch out for misleading satnav directions: the lorry checkpoint on the A13 in Austria is closed

Since 1 January 2025, one lane is open to traffic in each direction on the Lueg Bridge. As a result, the lorry checkpoint at Brenner-Nord in the northern direction has been closed.

The only exception has been made for vehicles using the Rollende Landstraße (RoLa), an intermodal transport system in which lorries are transported by rail. All other lorries are required to continue using the A13 motorway.

❗IMPORTANT: Satnav systems may incorrectly indicate that lorries should pass through the checkpoint. Remember! All trucks must change to the inside lane before passing the Luegbrücke bridge. For this reason ASFINAG recommends that all HGV drivers should make this lane change immediately after passing the Brenner border tunnel in a northerly direction.

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Traffic disruptions in the Fréjus Tunnel – schedule of closures and alternating traffic

Drivers travelling through the Fréjus Tunnel must prepare for temporary traffic disruptions. Owing to maintenance work, which started on February 3 and will continue until March 3, the organisation of traffic has been changed.

The greatest disruption will occur on 26 February (Wednesday) when the tunnel will be completely closed from 00:00 to 05:00. During this time, drivers will have to use alternative routes.

Alternating traffic at night

From Monday to Friday alternating traffic along the entire length of the tunnel may cause additional delays. Since no work will be carried out on Saturday and Sunday evenings, traffic disruptions are not expected during these times.

Detailed schedule of closures and traffic management in the Fréjus Tunnel for February 2025