Industry welcomes easing of truck driving ban on Sundays and public holidays

The Federal Minister of Transport has proposed a temporary easing of the driving ban for trucks on Sundays and public holidays. This is in response to the low water levels that are affecting transport options via waterways. Several federal states, including Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Saarland, have already implemented these relaxations.

Reactions to the proposal are mixed. While the industry praises the measure and sees it as a relief for goods transportation, some political voices express concerns. Representatives of the Greens have stated that the decision to allow more trucks on the roads is viewed as misguided.

Federal Minister of Transport Bilger defended the measures in an interview with Deutschlandfunk. He emphasized the need to maintain logistics chains during periods of low water and advocated for flexible traffic conditions for the economy.