Germany extends the suspension of the Sunday driving ban for lorries
TOP MAGAZINE · Road Transport
Several German federal states are lifting the Sunday driving ban on lorries due to persistently low water levels. The measure will remain in place until at least the end of October 2026 and is intended to compensate for the loss of river transport by ensuring supplies are delivered by road.
Driving ban temporarily lifted on Sundays
Since 1956, Germany has had a ban on lorries driving on Sundays, introduced to reduce traffic congestion and environmental impact. Normally, only the transport of perishable goods is exempt.
Due to persistently low water levels on major rivers and the unavailability of key waterways, lorries in ten federal states are temporarily permitted to operate on Sundays as well. This measure was initially introduced until the end of August, then extended to the end of September, and has now been extended to at least the end of October.
Extremely low water levels increase the role of road transport
The decision follows an unusually dry season in which major rivers such as the Rhine near Cologne reached their lowest water levels on record. As a result, cargo ships are unable to sail, or can do so only with great difficulty, which is putting the supply chain under severe strain.
To ensure that businesses and shops continue to be supplied, the driving ban has been lifted in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, Bremen, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg, amongst others. Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are also implementing the relaxation of the ban.
Traffic flow and implications for logistics
According to German traffic reports, the relaxation of the ban during the summer did not lead to increased traffic congestion, despite the extra lorries on the roads. This indicates sufficient capacity on the main road network.
For shippers, this situation means a different logistical landscape in the coming weeks: whereas road transport is normally not permitted on Sundays, this relaxation offers opportunities to spread out deliveries and mitigate bottlenecks in supplies via inland waterways.
What does this mean for your consignment?
TOP’s analysis based on the above development.
Planning
Shippers can now also plan lorry deliveries for Sundays to, through or within the aforementioned German federal states. This offers additional flexibility in resolving delivery delays caused by the suspension of river shipping.
Costs
As road transport continues on Sundays, high-impact urgent deliveries can be made by road; however, driver and vehicle costs on Sundays and public holidays generally remain higher than on weekdays.
Point to note
Please note that the relaxation of restrictions does not apply throughout Germany and that there may be exceptions in regional regulations. Check in advance in which federal state Sunday deliveries are permitted.
Sources
Evofenedex — German federal states relax lorry driving ban
Camp to Go — Sunday driving ban for lorries not in force this month either - Camp to Go
Image: TOP archive, for illustrative purposes.