Facing severely low water levels on major waterways, the Chemical Industry Association (VCI) is calling for a swift, nationwide easing of the ban on trucks driving on Sundays and holidays. According to VCI CEO Wolfgang Große Entrup, “All federal states should lift the Sunday driving ban,” stressing that a piecemeal approach “helps no one.”
The VCI noted that the low water levels on the Rhine and other shipping routes are placing “massive pressure” on logistics and supply chains. Große Entrup warns that what initially seems like a transport problem could quickly turn into a production problem, noting that the risk of production limitations is now “high.” This concern is particularly acute for basic chemicals and raw materials, such as methanol and benzene, or liquefied gases like butane, propane, and ammonia, which are transported by inland barges.
Currently, eight states have voluntarily eased the existing Sunday driving ban temporarily: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland (as of August 11).
Beyond relaxing the national Sunday ban, Große Entrup outlined several additional urgent measures. These include making emergency transshipment centers available, temporarily raising the permissible total weight for trucks from 40 to 44 tons. Furthermore, he insisted that freight transport must be given short-term priority over passenger traffic on railways, existing lock operating hours must be extended, and control centers at key canals must be manned “24/7” on short notice.
