Reaction to low water levels: First states allow truck transport on Sundays and holidays

Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland are temporarily suspending Sunday and holiday driving bans for specific truck transports. This decision aims to mitigate the impact of critically low water levels on the Rhine River, which severely restricts shipping.

Officials in Mainz and Saarbrücken stated that the measure will facilitate the road transport of goods that can currently only be moved with difficulty or not at all via the Rhine. The exception is effective immediately and will apply throughout the upcoming weekend. It is designed to provide necessary flexibility for logistics when river transport is limited.

Markus Wolf, the transport state secretary for Rhineland-Palatinate, explained that other transport modes must be able to support flexibly when Rhine navigation is restricted. He emphasized that these measures create the necessary room to maneuver. Saarland's Minister of Mobility, Petra Berg, highlighted the importance of ensuring that necessary goods and raw materials reach their destinations, particularly for Saarland as an industrial location.

The exception applies to transports directly or indirectly linked to the Rhine's low water levels or the substitute transport measures required. It also covers related empty runs. The exemption is valid until September 30. However, it does not apply to oversized or heavy transports. The proposal for these exceptions emerged from a recent conference on low water levels convened by Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger.