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The holiday season is just around the corner. As in previous years, this means we’ll be facing additional driving bans in various European countries over the coming months. These holiday restrictions directly impact transport planning and delivery schedules.
To help you stay informed, we’ve summarized the key changes and what they mean for your shipments.
Germany
From July 1 through August 31, a Saturday driving ban is in place on busy arterial routes in Germany from 07:00 to 20:00. This is in addition to the regular weekend driving bans in Germany.
As a result, trucks are not allowed to drive through Germany during the weekend in this period, making weekend departures and Monday deliveries more challenging.
Austria
In Austria, from June 7 through September 27, a Saturday driving ban applies from 07:00 to 15:00 on major transit routes. This is a longer period than in previous years due to additional restrictions related to roadworks on key routes such as the A12 Inntal, A13 Brenner, and A14 Rheintal/Walgau, particularly the renovation of the Lueg Bridge.
You can find more information about this on our dedicated page about the Brenner Pass situation.
After 15:00, the regular weekend ban comes into effect.
Standard restrictions also remain in place:
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Sunday and public holiday ban from 00:00 to 22:00
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Night driving ban from 22:00 to 05:00
The combination of these rules makes planning transit through Austria—or arranging Monday deliveries—especially difficult during the summer months.
Italy
Italy typically announces its Saturday holiday driving bans on short notice. These are in addition to the regular driving ban in Italy on Sunday, which apply from 07:00 to 22:00 during the summer.
In practice, this—combined with restrictions in surrounding countries—means Monday deliveries are not always feasible.
Do you have an urgent shipment that must be delivered on a Monday? Please contact our planners ahead of time to discuss the options.
Want to know more about how these restrictions impact your shipments to Italy? Visit our page on transport to Italy during the holiday season.
Switzerland
Switzerland does not impose additional holiday driving bans, but the standard rules still apply:
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Sunday and public holiday ban from 00:00 to 24:00
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Night driving ban from 22:00 to 05:00
In addition, hazardous goods cannot be transported freely throughout Switzerland. This is something to keep in mind for ADR shipments.
Black Saturdays
In addition to driving bans, Black Saturdays also impact transport. These are peak travel days with extreme congestion on European roads due to holiday traffic.
Every carrier is affected by this, and so are we.
You can find an overview of these days on the ANWB website.
Extra challenges this year
We’re already seeing more delays on routes to Southern Europe. Some key causes include:
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Railway works in Germany
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Roadworks in Switzerland and Austria, especially near the Brenner Pass
These conditions are likely to cause even more delays during the holiday period.
What can you expect from us?
As always, we’ll do everything we can to deliver your shipment and those of our regular customers on time. However, we also have to be realistic. Some delays will be unavoidable this year.
Due to holiday closures, limited driver capacity with our regular charters, extensive roadworks, and expanded driving bans, this summer may be even more challenging than previous years.
We’ll coordinate your shipments carefully with you. If we ask for longer transit times, we’ll have a clear reason and we appreciate your understanding.
Together, we’ll aim for the best possible outcome during this busy summer season.
