Truck bans in Germany in 2021

In Germany, trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tonnes and heavy goods vehicles with trailers, regardless of weight, are subject to bans on public holidays and Sundays.

Restrictions apply across the entire road network on Sundays and public holidays between midnight and 10 p.m. It should be noted, however, that some of the holidays, and the traffic bans associated with them, only apply to specific regions.

In recent days, the BAG has published a list of public holidays in 2021 on which traffic bans will apply.

Truck bans in Germany in 2021

– 2 April – Good Friday (the ban applies nationwide)

– 5 April – Easter Monday (the ban applies nationwide)

– 13 May – Ascension Day (the ban applies nationwide)

– 24 May – Whit Monday (the ban applies nationwide)

– 3 June – Corpus Christi (only in the following states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland)

– 3 October (German Reunification Day)

– 31 October – Reformation Day (only in the following states: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia)

– 1 November – All Saints’ Day (only in the following states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland)

– 25 December – Christmas

– 26 December – Christmas

Federal states agree to relax transit bans

North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony have agreed on truck traffic bans on consecutive public holidays. Arrangements between the federal states concern Reformation Day (31 October), which is a holiday in Lower Saxony, and All Saints’ Day (1 November) celebrated in North Rhine-Westphalia.

As agreed, the duration of the ban on heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes will be limited on these days to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. (on a public holiday in the federal state concerned). The regional authorities want to improve traffic flow in this way.

In addition, both federal states grant the right to drive trucks on important transit routes A1, A2, A30, A31 and A33 between 6 a. m. and 10 p.m. This regulation is also to apply if the Reformation Day or All Saints’ Day falls on a Sunday.

Details of the routes which can be used by trucks over 7.5 t on public holidays – Reformation Day in Lower Saxony and All Saints’ Day in North Rhine-Westphalia – can be found in our article on the subject.

In addition, Hesse, where in contrast to the bordering North Rhine-Westphalia All Saints’ Day is not celebrated, has abandoned the prosecution and punishment of offences related to violations of the truck ban in the state on this date.

However, this only applies to vehicles taking the shortest route between the two parts of Hesse via North Rhine-Westphalia. For this, the only possible route is the A44 motorway at junction 65, between the border of Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia at km 43.2 to the border of the states North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse at km 38.4.

Restrictions do not apply to all

Here is the list of trucks exempt from German Sunday and public holiday bans :

– the combined transport of goods (road-rail) from the consignor to the nearest station of loading or from the nearest station of unloading to the consignee, but only for a distance not exceeding 200 km;

– the combined transport of goods (port and road) between the point of loading and unloading and a port situated within a distance not exceeding 150 kilometres (delivery and export);

– the carriage of the following goods and empty runs in connection therewith: fresh milk and fresh milk products, fresh meat and fresh meat processing products, fresh fish, live fish and fresh fish processing products, perishable fruit and vegetables.