Due to continuing low water levels, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has extended the Sunday driving ban for heavy trucks until September 30th, according to a spokesperson for NRW Transport Minister Oliver Krischer (Greens), as reported by the “Rheinische Post” on Saturday. This decision will be formalized through a new regulation.
The logistics industry has welcomed this measure. Christoph Kösters, Managing Director of the Association for Transport and Logistics in North Rhine-Westphalia, stated to the “Rheinische Post” that this is precisely what their regional government had requested. He added that the expansion of flexibility also includes easier permissions for heavy goods vehicles up to 44 tons. While the shift to road transport has helped manage some traffic in recent days, he clarified that it cannot compensate for all currently restricted inland navigation capacity, meaning it is a welcome step but not a total fix, given the inherent limits on available capacity among trucks and drivers.
Kösters also noted the benefit of allowing hazardous goods containers to be stored longer in ports until further notice. “That alleviated some pressure from the system. The feared additional congestion on the autobahns did not happen,” he said. Furthermore, some cargo has been diverted to rail, although capacity on railway lines remains limited.
While the industry does not wish to fundamentally abolish the Sunday driving ban, as workers require weekends and rest periods, Kösters stressed the need for greater flexibility. He mentioned that the Federal-State Committee in the Bundesrat has already decided to lift the ban on non-nationally designated public holidays, which he views very positively. Looking ahead, he suggested that the weekend driving ban hours should be reviewed and potentially adjusted, such as ending earlier on Sunday-perhaps at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM instead of 10:00 PM.
