There is good news for the road haulage sector: from 1 January 2026, one of the most criticised regulations in Danish road transport will be scrapped. The Danish Ministry of Transport has announced that the 25-hour parking limit for lorries at motorway rest areas will be lifted — a rule that the transport and logistics industry (TSL) has opposed for years.
As part of the change, responsibility for monitoring parking at motorway rest areas will return to the police. The Danish Road Transport Association (ITD) has welcomed the decision.
“It is necessary to put an end to this absurd regulation,” said the organisation’s chairman, John Agervig Skovrup.
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A short history of a long-standing problem
The controversial 25-hour rule was introduced in July 2018. It prohibited lorry drivers from parking in state-owned motorway rest areas for longer than 25 hours — effectively preventing them from taking their mandatory 45-hour weekly rest at such facilities.
Officially, the regulation was intended to combat “nomadic” driving patterns and social dumping in the transport sector. In practice, however, it caused multiple problems: it restricted the freedom to provide services, distorted competition, and disproportionately affected Danish hauliers compared to foreign competitors.
The new rules also introduced parking charges for lorries and increased fines dramatically — up to DKK 3,000 for illegal parking. Even at the time, Danish businesses and trade bodies criticised the move, arguing that it disrupted logistics operations and risked shifting parking problems onto local roads.
CJEU: no evidence, but the issue remains
In March 2022, the European Commission referred Denmark to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), claiming that the 25-hour limit breached EU principles on the freedom to provide services. Brussels argued that the rule created obstacles for international hauliers without operational bases in Denmark, despite their need to comply with EU driving and rest time rules (Regulation (EU) 561/2006).
However, in December 2023, the CJEU dismissed the complaint, citing insufficient evidence from the Commission. While the court acknowledged that the rule could affect foreign hauliers, it found no proof that private alternative parking facilities were inadequate.
Positive reactions from the industry
The decision to repeal the rule has been met with widespread approval.
“This is fantastic news for the entire industry! The 25-hour rule has caused frustration and unfair working conditions for years,” emphasised John Agervig Skovrup.
Danish Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen also acknowledged that the regulation had created an uneven playing field and was difficult to enforce.
While the ITD expressed disappointment that the ministry did not immediately allocate resources to more effective roadside checks, it welcomed the transfer of parking supervision back to the police from 2026. Until then, the Danish Road Traffic Authority will continue to oversee enforcement.
