The amendment presented last week by Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke proposes that the toll should not rise by 10–13 percent as initially planned, but by around 7.7 percent depending on the vehicle category. According to Alexander Klacska, Chairman of the Transport and Logistics Association of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ), this does not go far enough:
“The so-called agreement published last week by Infrastructure Minister Hanke on the truck toll is a first step, but it is merely an agreement within the coalition. We were not at the negotiating table.”
He criticised the fact that the sector’s needs are not being adequately taken into account.
“Even if the toll increase is no longer 10–13 percent but around 7.7 percent depending on the vehicle, this still represents an enormous burden. Many transport companies will struggle to cope with it,” Klacska said.
Austria’s leading position on toll tariffs
According to industry statements, Austria is already among the countries with the highest truck toll rates in Europe. The Economic Chamber argues that this situation further intensifies the competitive pressure on domestic companies, which are already facing strong foreign competition in cross-border transport.
Protests as a last resort
The industry therefore continues to oppose the planned increase. Markus Fischer, President of the Professional Association of the Transport Industry, announced:
“If no further concessions are made, additional protest actions will be necessary in the coming weeks.”
Such actions could cause significant traffic disruptions in Austria. The WKÖ has already pointed out that the persistently difficult economic situation is severely limiting the resilience of the industry.
Further demands from the industry
In addition to relief on tolls, representatives of the transport industry are calling for further budget-neutral measures. These include the abolition of the night-time 60 km/h speed limit known as “Night 60” and the introduction of a truck driving licence for 17-year-olds. Both measures are intended to improve competitiveness and reduce costs for companies.
