Relaxed truck driving bans in Germany yield little traffic increase

Several German states have temporarily suspended or relaxed Sunday driving bans for trucks, a measure aimed at alleviating pressure on the struggling inland navigation sector. The initiative sought to compensate for reduced capacity on waterways caused by low water levels, which have hampered barge traffic.

“

The additional possibilities are being utilized, however, apparently to a manageable extent.

However, the impact on road freight has been minimal. Dirk Engelhardt, spokesperson for the Federal Association of Freight Transport and Logistics (BGL), told Rheinische Post that while the additional opportunities are being utilized, the increase in truck traffic has been "manageable." He noted that some states, like North Rhine-Westphalia, saw a slight rise, but others, such as Bavaria, experienced hardly any change over the past weekend.

“

We cannot speak of a significantly higher truck volume across the board based on the current knowledge.

Engelhardt explained that many companies and drivers are hesitant to take on additional Sunday transports, expressing skepticism about the practicality and benefits of the extended operating hours. Furthermore, he pointed out that the temporary suspension of the bans does not create additional drivers or increase legally permitted driving times, limiting the overall potential for increased road freight.

“

Many companies and drivers are skeptical about the idea of taking on additional transports on Sundays.

"We cannot speak of a significantly higher truck volume across the board based on the current knowledge," Engelhardt stated, underscoring that the measure has not led to the anticipated surge in road transport. The focus remains on addressing the underlying issues within the inland waterway system.

“

Neither additional drivers nor additional legal driving times are created by the temporary suspension.