The first demonstration against drastic toll increases in Germany was organised by BLV-pro on 4 November. Several hundred lorries gathered in Heilbronn and several other German cities and blocked traffic, showing the industry’s willingness to take further action, the organisation said, calling for further action.
Hauliers have planned a protest in Wiesbaden on Saturday 26 November. A procession of lorries is planned at the rally site in the city centre, which is expected to start at around 12.00 p.m. It will be accompanied by speeches and the demonstration will end with a request for help being handed over to politicians.
According to information provided by BLV-pro on Thursday 24 November, the organisation has registered 300 participants, each of whom will arrive in a lorry up to 18 metres long.
Other hauliers are expected to join the protest spontaneously.
The union also confirmed yesterday that the lorries will set off on Saturday morning from Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate), from where they will reach the centre of Wiesbaden (Hesse). Local authorities expect traffic disruptions on the A60 and A67.
A threat to businesses
BLV-pro warns of the serious consequences of the toll increase, which poses a serious threat to the entire economy. The Federal Government must take into account the impact of the toll increase on shippers and the entire logistics industry.
Therefore, the association believes that the government should not double the toll rates:
– to undertake a comprehensive review of the toll structure as a matter of urgency, to find a fair solution that does not further jeopardise the competitiveness of shippers, and to make toll data available for monitoring purposes,
– not to finance the railways at the expense of road transport
– not create the conditions for a competitive advantage for rail to the detriment of shippers,
– allow the use of toll revenues for infrastructure investments such as truck parking, rest areas, road and bridge construction,
– introduce commercial diesel,
– introduce statutory payment terms of a maximum of 14 days,
– protect German small and medium-sized enterprises in the transport sector.
“The planned tariff increase threatens not only jobs but also the security of supply for the entire population. The public must understand that this solution threatens our supply infrastructure,” says Konstantin Popov, CEO of BLV-pro.