Hungary: Nighttime truck ban lifted due to heatwave

The Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport, following a request from the national road hauliers’ association MKFE, has temporarily relaxed the weekend truck traffic ban for 5–6 July due to the ongoing heatwave.

The decision was made in consultation with industry stakeholders and aims to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods. As a result, transport companies will have greater flexibility in scheduling their operations.

Although the ban formally remains in place, a nighttime exemption window has been introduced during which trucks are allowed to move freely. This temporary measure is intended to ease the burden of summer restrictions.

In practice, this means that the driving ban for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes gross weight (GVW) will apply as follows this weekend:
❌ Saturday, 5 July: from 15:00 to 22:00
❌ Sunday, 6 July: from 06:00 to 22:00

General exemptions from Hungary’s truck traffic restrictions:
During the enforcement of the “kamionstop” (truck ban), the following vehicles are completely exempt:
Vehicles transporting:
▪️ live animals
▪️ fresh milk and dairy products
▪️ fresh or frozen meat and meat products
▪️ fresh bread
▪️ perishable foodstuffs
▪️ eggs
▪️ fresh (unprocessed) vegetables and fruits
▪️ grains and grain products
▪️ Empty vehicles: en route to pick up the above cargo or returning from delivery (provided the vehicle is purpose-built for transporting such goods)

❗IMPORTANT: Additional summer exemption for returning trucks
Throughout July and August, trucks returning from abroad are allowed to travel from the national border to their company base in Hungary or to their first unloading point, even during the general truck ban.

However, this exemption does not apply on the following 19 specific road sections during weekends and public holidays:

a) M7 motorway – along its entire length
b) Main Road 2 – from Budapest to 39+150 km, and M2 – from the junction with Roads 2 and 12 to Parassapuszta
c) Expressway 2/A – entire section
d) Main Road 6 – between Dunaújváros and Budapest
e) Main Road 7
f) Main Road 10 – between Dorog and Budapest
g) Main Road 11 – between Esztergom and Budapest
h) Main Road 12 – entire section
i) Road 1201 – entire section
j) Main Road 51 – between the junction with Road 510 and Dömsöd
k) Main Road 71 – entire section
l) Main Road 76 – between junctions with Roads 71 and 7, and between Zalaapáti and Road 71
m) Main Road 55 – between Alsónyék and Baja
n) Main Road 82 – from Road 8 to Veszprémvarsány
o) Main Road 84 – from Sümeg to Road 71
p) Main Road 33 – from Dormánd to Debrecen
q) Main Road 86 – between Jánossomorja and Nemesbőd, and between Körmend and Zalabaksa
r) Main Road 37 – between Miskolc and Sátoraljaújhely
s) Main Road 38 – between the junction with Road 37 and Rakamaz