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IMPARGO

May 27, 2025 - 4 min read


Truck Ban Germany 2026 – Dates, Fines & Legal Route Planning

All Sunday, public holiday, and summer Saturday truck driving bans in Germany • § 30 StVO calendar & fines • How to define legal time-windows with IMPARGO so dispatchers, drivers, and clients stay aligned.

Last update: 11 June 2026 – check the truck ban today in the calendar below. Official source: the BALM calendar for 2026.

Table of Contents

  1. What is the Truck Ban in Germany?
  2. § 30 StVO & 2026 Holiday List
  3. Calendar 2026
  4. Fines & BALM Inspections
  5. Time-Window Planning with IMPARGO
  6. FAQ

1 | What is the Truck Ban in Germany?

The truck ban on Sundays and public holidays applies under § 30 StVO to vehicles over 7.5 t GVW and all truck-trailer combinations (regardless of weight) between 00:00 – 22:00, including empty runs. 
The summer Saturday ban (Ferienreiseverordnung) is also in effect: 1 July – 31 August 2026, every Saturday 07:00 – 20:00, on selected motorway and federal road segments.

§ 30 StVO – Sunday & Public Holiday Truck Ban

Legal basis: § 30 para. 3–4 StVO (also applies to empty runs).

Public Holidays with Truck Bans in 2026

Germany · 2026
Public holidays with truck driving bans
Date Holiday Region
01.01.2026New Yearnationwide
03.04.2026Good Fridaynationwide
06.04.2026Easter Mondaynationwide
01.05.2026Labour Daynationwide
14.05.2026Ascension Daynationwide
25.05.2026Whit Mondaynationwide
04.06.2026Corpus ChristiBW, BY, HE, NW, RP, SL
03.10.2026German Unity Daynationwide
31.10.2026Reformation DayBB, HB, HH, MV, NI, SN, ST, SH, TH
01.11.2026All Saints' DayBW, BY, NW, RP, SL
25./26.12.2026Christmasnationwide
Source: BALM – Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobilität, 2026. balm.bund.de

On regional holidays the ban applies only in the listed federal states; BALM publishes transit exemptions for North Rhine-Westphalia on Corpus Christi and All Saints' Day.

Summer Travel Regulation

1 July – 31 August 2026 • Saturdays 07:00–20:00 • applies to selected motorways and federal roads. First affected weekend: Saturday, 4 July 2026.

2 | Calendar 2026 – Truck Driving Bans

Unless stated otherwise, all bans apply from 00:00 to 22:00.

Germany · Calendar 2026
Days with truck driving bans
Month Date Day Occasion Region Ban Time
January01.01.ThuNew Yearnationwide00–22
Feb & MarNo additional bans
April03.04.FriGood Fridaynationwide00–22
April06.04.MonEaster Mondaynationwide00–22
May01.05.FriLabour Daynationwide00–22
May14.05.ThuAscension Daynationwide00–22
May25.05.MonWhit Mondaynationwide00–22
June04.06.ThuCorpus Christiregional00–22
Jul & AugEvery SaturdaySatSummer Saturday Truck Banmotorways / federal roads07–20
October03.10.SatGerman Unity Daynationwide00–22
October31.10.SatReformation Dayregional00–22
November01.11.SunAll Saints' Dayregional00–22
December25.12.FriChristmas Daynationwide00–22
December26.12.SatBoxing Daynationwide00–22
All yearEvery SundaySunSunday Truck Bannationwide00–22
Source: BALM, 2026 (holidays) · § 30 StVO (Sundays) · Ferienreiseverordnung (summer Saturdays). balm.bund.de
⚠ Watch out in 2026: German Unity Day (3 October) and Reformation Day (31 October) fall on Saturdays, and All Saints' Day (1 November) on a Sunday – effectively two autumn weekends with extended bans. Plan Friday-evening parking well ahead.

Also crossing Austria? See the truck ban calendar for Austria.

3 | Fines & BALM Inspections

Truck ban fines (Sunday/holiday): €120 for drivers, €570 for the operator who ordered or permitted the run. 
Compliance is enforced by the police and BALM (Bundesamt für Logistik und Mobilität, formerly BAG) on German motorways.

Tip:
In IMPARGO's Planner Module, set up to two time-windows per stop outside of the banned hours. IMPARGO automatically checks drive/rest time rules, warns about conflicts, and shows the same window to dispatch, driver, and client. View time planning guide

4 | Time-Window Planning with IMPARGO

The IMPARGO Transport Management Platform does not auto-block calendar dates but offers a flexible time-window tool (max. 2 per stop):

  • Set allowed windows (e.g. 22:05–23:59 & 00:01–06:50).
  • Route & ETA are only calculated within valid windows.
  • If already on the road, dispatch can:
    • chat with the driver via DriverApp, or
    • add a pause or parking stop to explain downtime.
  • All parties (dispatch, driver, client) see the same windows.
  • Costs & margins update in real-time in the Cost Calculator.

Example: a Rotterdam – Munich run leaving Thursday afternoon needs to be unloaded or parked before Saturday 07:00 in the summer season. With time-windows set, the ETA shows from the start whether the driver makes the window – instead of finding out Friday evening, over the phone.

Setting time-windows per stop in IMPARGO's Planner Module – truck route planning around driving bans
Time-windows per stop in the Planner Module: ETA calculated only within legal windows, visible to dispatch, driver, and client.

One legal schedule – no violations – full visibility.

5 | FAQ

From what weight do truck bans apply?
For vehicles over 7.5 t GVW or any truck-trailer combo, regardless of weight.

Is the Sunday ban in force every week?
Yes – it applies nationwide every Sunday and public holiday, 00:00–22:00.

Are there exemptions?
Yes – for combined rail/port transport, perishables, newspapers, humanitarian aid (permit required).

Who enforces the bans?
The police and BALM. Fines: €120 for the driver / €570 for the operator.

Avoid fines and plan legally around driving bans

Routes, tolls, and ETA in one view – with time blockers that surface ban conflicts on the dispatch timeline so you re-plan with the customer before departure, not on the road. See how it works for your fleet in 30 minutes.

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