by Italy – additional HGV driving ban on the A22 Brenner motorway
According to information announced by the government commissioner for the province of Bolzano, the Austrian authorities have introduced an HGV driving ban for vehicles with a GVW over 7.5 tonnes, which applies on the northbound carriageway of the Brenner motorway from Sterzing to the state border at Brenner on all Saturdays from January 11 to March 15, between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Vehicles affected by the ban which are already traveling on the Brenner motorway in the province of Bolzano when the ban comes into effect, can stop at the SA.DO.BRE parking lot in Sterzing / Vipiteno or at other places along the motorway in the neighboring communes or in parking lots designated by the traffic police.
The following transports are exempt from the ban:
◾ 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, incl. teams of lighting and sound engineers travelling to and from the venue, urgent journeys involving trucks, articulated vehicles or trucks with trailers used by the Austrian armed forces, journeys of self-propelled agricultural machines, humanitarian aid transports performed by recognized organizations;
◾ 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.
◾ Journeys performed exclusively to transport goods to or from airports or military airfields that are used for civil aviation purposes.
by Austria: new HGV driving bans on the A12, A13 and A14 motorways
The Austrian Federal Minister for Climate, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology has issued a regulation introducing additional HGV driving bans on the A12, A13 and A14 motorways in 2025.
The restriction is related to the general renovation of the Lueg Bridge and will apply on days with high traffic intensity days. It was published in the Federal Law Gazette (RIS – BGBLA_2024_II_409).
The driving ban applies:
❌ to lorries and articulated vehicles with a gross combination mass exceeding 7.5 tonnes.
❌ on A12 Inntal, A13 Brenner and A14 Rheintal/Walgau motorways:
◾ Every Saturday from 11 January to 15 March 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ on Saturday 12 April, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ Every Saturday from 7 Juneto 27 September, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ on Thursday 17 April, Friday 18 April, Wednesday 28 May, Wednesday 18 June and Thursday 2 October, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
◾ The ban applies if route to the destination leads via the A 13 motorway section from the Nößlach junction to the Brenner Nord junction towards the national border.
❌on the A13 Brenner motorway (from the Italian/Austrian border to the Nößlach junction):
◾ Every Saturday from 11 January to 15 March 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ Every Saturday from 5 July 2025 to 30 August 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
◾ The ban applies if the route to your destination leads via the motorway section from the Brenner Nord junction to the Nößlach junction in the direction of Innsbruck.
❗ATTENTION – ASFINAG, in cooperation with local authorities, has prepared a detailed traffic calendar on the Lueg Bridge, which came into force on January 1, 2025.
by Tirol: traffic restrictions on the Lueg Bridge in 2025
In cooperation with the local authorities, the ministry and partners, ASFINAG has prepared a detailed schedule of traffic measures on the Lueg Bridge, which comes into effect on 1 January 2025.
The schedule is supposed to to enable drivers to plan their journeys on the A13 motorway once single-lane traffic on the bridge is in place. The measure is necessary to reduce the load exerted on the bridge and ensure traffic safety. Innovative traffic management solutions will be used to minimise disruptions, but drivers should expect periodic changes and adapt their travel plans to the new conditions.
Two-lane traffic on selected days
To minimise disruptions, ASFINAG plans to allow two-lane traffic in each difrection on 180 days when traffic intensity is predicted to be much higher. On these days:
❌ Vehicles with a GVW of over 3.5 tons will be obliged to use the inner lane (closest to the middle of the bridge).
❌ Cars will be able to use both lanes.
Depending on the situation, two-lane traffic will be enabled on the southbound or the northbound carriageway, or in both directions at the same time.
HGV driving bans
Despite two-lane traffic, considerable traffic jams may occur on some days. This is why there will be 14 days with an HGV driving ban for vehicles with a GVW of over 7.5 tons on the southbound carriageway. In total, in 2025, there will be:
❌ 36 days with an HGV driving ban on the southbound carriageway,
❌ 21 days with an HGV driving ban on the northbound carriageway.
Intensive preparations for the introduction of the new traffic organization have been underway for several months. Work will continue in 2025 according to the following schedule:
❌ January 1, 2025 – the introduction of single-lane traffic on the bridge.
❌ end of January 2025 – weather permitting, first days with two-lane traffic.
❌ Spring 2025 – completion of the installation of the automated traffic control and management system.
In the event of snowfall, two-lane traffic cannot be introduced because snow removal trucks will not be able to use the outer lanes of the bridge.
by Slovakia: derogation from the HGV driving ban
At the request of ČESMAD Slovakia, the Slovakian Presidium of the Police Force has granted a general exemption from the driving ban on 24 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.
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 and travelling to destinations (e.g. the company’s base or the place of unloading) located in Slovakia.
by Germany: A1 closed for three weekends
In the coming weeks, drivers travelling through North Rhine-Westphalia will face major disruptions. The A1 motorway in the Unna area will be closed for three consecutive weekends. The closure is connected with the modernisation of two bridges.
❌First weekend: November 17
On November 17 (Sunday), the A1 motorway will be closed from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM in both directions between the Dortmund/Unna junction and the Westhofen junction. The closure will be used to conduct some demolition work on the Liedbachtal bridge using explosives. The following diversion routes will be available:
◾ Through traffic will be diverted to the A45 and A2 motorways.
Diversion routes for drivers heading for Schwerte:
◾ traffic from the south: via the U71 from the A45 Schwerte-Ergste junction.
◾ traffic from the north: from the Dortmund/Unna junction via the B1 and B236.
❌Second weekend: November 29 – December 2
The motorway will be closed from 10:00 PM on Friday, November 29, until 5:00 AM on Monday, December 2. Initially, the section between the Kamen-Zentrum and Dortmund/Unna junctions will be closed, and on Sunday, December 1, at 8:00 AM, the closure will be extended in the northern direction to the Kamen junction and in the southern direction to the Westhofen junction.
❌Third weekend: December 6–9
The motorway will be closed from 10:00 PM on Friday, December 6, until 5:00 AM on Monday, December 9. During this time, the section of the motorway between the Kamen-Zentrum junction and Dortmund/Unna will be closed in both directions.
Further information regarding diversion routes for the second and third weekends will be announced at a later date.
by France: an exemption from the Sunday driving ban in northern France for certain types of transports
In response to a bird flu epidemic, which has broken out in northern France, the authorities have introduced an exemption from the driving ban on Sundays and public holidays in the departments of Aisne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais and Somme until 6 January 2025. The exemption applies to vehicles (loaded or returning empty) transporting equipment, materials, products or vehicles necessary for cleaning poultry farms or places designated for this purpose.
In the event of an inspection, hauliers must provide proof that they are eligible for the exemption. A copy of the French decree must be on board the vehicle ➡ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.
by Spain: damaged bridge on the A7 – restrictions for HGV traffic in Valencia
Given traffic disruptions caused by the flooding, the General Directorate of Traffic has issued a resolution implementing extraordinary traffic management measures to minimise possible traffic problems that are likely to occur in the Valencia metropolitan area.
Damage sustained by the structure of the viaduct on the A-7 motorway at kilometre 336.8 (Quart de Poblet), which affects both lanes of the Valencia metropolitan bypass, will have an effect on long-distance traffic along the Mediterranean transport corridor.
The A-7 motorway is used by more than 77,000 vehicles per day, 25% of which are heavy goods vehicles. In addition, the port of Valencia, one of the most important ports in the country, is visited by 5,000 trucks per day.
Because the storms associated with the cut-off low (DANA), which occurred on the night of 29-30 October, have caused serious damage in Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha and the Valencian Community, the General Directorate of Road and Rail Transport has announced temporary exceptions to driving and rest times for freight transport ➡ CLICK
According to the resolution, no HGVs (laden or not) with a GVW of over 7.5 tonnes are allowed to use Valencian roads if their point of departure or destination is NOT located in the province of Valencia.
A number of alternative routes have been designated by DGT
▶️1. North-south direction:
• The Communities of Aragon and Catalonia via AP-2/A-2 towards Madrid. In the town of Sagunto, HGVs are not allowed to use AP-7; a diversion is available along the A-23 (Zaragoza).
• the Communities of Madrid A-3 and Castilla-La Mancha via the A-31 / A-30 Albacete-Alicante-Murcia and Almería.
▶️2. South-North direction
• The Communities of Andalusia and the Region of Murcia via the AP-7/A-7, A-31 Albacete and A-3 Madrid; the driving ban on the AP-7 applies in the town of Picassent with a diversion via the A-7.
• The Communities of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon and Catalonia via the A-2 / AP-2
▶️3. HGVs with a GVW of over 7.5t departing from the city or the metropolitan area of Valencia or heading to destinations located within their boundaries, can travel only between 10pm and 7am from Monday to Friday, except for public holidays. Transports of essential goods are excluded from this ban.
▶️ As a result, HGVs will NOT be allowed to drive on the following roads during the day.
• A-3 towards Valencia: from km 339 in Riba-Roja to km 352 in Valencia,
• V-30 in both directions: from km 0 in Puerto Valencia to km 16 in Paterna-Manises;
• V-31 in both directions: from km 0 in Silla to km 13 in Valencia;
• A-7 towards Barcelona: from km 355 in Picassent to km 337 in Riba-Roja.
❗These restrictions come into effect at midnight on 4 November and will apply until a temporary three-lane diversionis made available on the A-7 motorway in connection with the A-3 motorway (the Valencia ring road).
The status of all roads affected by the flooding can be checked in real time on the DGT website.
According to the State Meteorological Agency, storms caused by the DANA have not yet ended and rains are still likely in the coming days, which could affect road traffic.
by Slovakia: derogation from the HGV driving ban on November1
At the request of ČESMAD Slovakia, the Slovakian Presidium of the Police Force has granted a general exemption from the driving ban on Friday, November 1.
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 and travelling to destinations (e.g. the company’s base or the place of unloading) located in Slovakia.
by The ban was supposed to begin in a few hours, but the Hungarians have once again postponed the start of the restrictions
It might not come as a surprise, as it’s becoming quite common, but just a few hours before the truck driving ban was set to begin, the Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport has decided to postpone it once again.
According to the statement, today’s ban (October 22), which was supposed to start at 10:00 PM, has been canceled. Tomorrow’s restrictions (October 23) have been postponed by 6 hours and will now take effect at 6:00 AM instead of midnight. The ban will last until 10:00 PM.
Restriction schedule:
❌ October 22 (Tuesday) – No restriction
❌ October 23 (Wednesday) – 06:00 to 22:00.
Another such situation might occur in a few days, when the Hungarian restrictions will span four days (October 31 and November 1, 2, and 3). We will keep you informed of any changes as they happen.
by Germany: all you need to know about driving bans on 31 October and 1 November
HGV driving bans in Germany on these two days may be rather confusing, which is not surprising given the fact that both holidays are celebrated only in selected federal states, and the hours of the bans vary depending on the region. However, to make life easier for truck drivers, the authorities introduce derogations that allow them to cross the state where the ban is in effect without having to stop for two days.
Basic facts:
❌ Thursday, October 31, Reformation Day is a public holiday in the states of Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia. The ban is in effect from 00:00 to 10:00 PM, except for Lower Saxony, where it starts from 06:00 and lasts until 10:00 PM.
❌ Friday, November 1, All Saints’ Day is is a public holiday in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. The ban is in effect from 00:00 to 22:00, except in North Rhine-Westphalia, where it starts from 06:00 and lasts until 10:00 PM.
Exceptions in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia
Until 2025, special regulations regarding Reformation Day and All Saints’ Day apply in the states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. Reformation Day (October 31) is a public holiday in Lower Saxony,, while All Saints’ Day (November 1) is a public holiday in North Rhine-Westphalia.
To make sure that lorry drivers traveling through Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia are not banned from driving for 2 days in a row, the hours when the ban is in effect have been changed. On both holidays, the ban will last from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
In addition, both federal states allow lorries to use the main transit routes along A 1, A 2, A 30, A 31 and A 33 during a public holiday when the ban is in effect. Listed below are motorway sections where HGV traffic is allowed between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM on public holidays in Lower Saxony or North Rhine Westphalia:
➡️ A1 – from the Lotte/Osnabrück junction to the border of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony near the Osnabrück-Nord junction and in the opposite direction.
➡️ A2 – From the Bad Oeynhausen junction to the border between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt and in the opposite direction.
➡️ A 30 – from the Bad Bentheim border crossing to the Bad Oeynhausen intersection with the A2 motorway and in the opposite direction.
➡️ A31 – from the Schüttorf motorway junction to the border between Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia and in the opposite direction.
➡️ A33 – from the Osnabrück-Süd motorway junction to the Dissen-Süd junction and in the opposite direction.
Additional derogation in North Rhine-Westphalia
In contrast to North Rhine-Westphalia, there is no driving ban on All Saints’ Day in the state of Hesse. For practical reasons, drivers travelling through North Rhine-Westphalia via the shortest route between two points in Hesse will not be fined for violating the driving ban on All Saints’ Day. Drivers should use the designated “transit section” of the A44 motorway (junction 65), from the state border at kilometre 43.2 to the state border at kilometre 28.4.
Transit traffic to and from the state of Berlin on Reformation Day (31.10)
In contrast to the neighbouring state of Brandenburg, there is no driving ban on Reformation Day in the state of Berlin. By virtue of an agreement with the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, HGV traffic on 31 October is permitted along A2, A20, A24, A4, A9, A10, A11, A12, A13, A14, A15, A17, A19, A38, A71, A72, A73, A111, A113, A114, A115, A117, A143, provided the place of departure or the place of destination is located in the state of Berlin.
Trucks are not allowed to leave the designated motorways in the states where the holiday driving ban is in effect, unless the motorway is completely closed following an accident or owing to road works. In such cases, trucks are allowed to follow designated diversion routes. If no diversion is indicated, drivers should use the shortest route to the nearest motorway junction. A truck is also allowed to leave the motorway in case of a mechanical failure. It should then be towed to the nearest suitable place where it can be safely parked.
