EU Oversize Weekly·21 August 2026

Europe’s Final August Truck-Ban Crunch: Where Heavy Transport Stops This Weekend

Verified driving bans and exceptional-transport restrictions for European heavy transport during the final weekend of August, 24–30 August 2026.

Intro

The final weekend of August brings the last major wave of 2026 summer driving bans across Europe, stacking national weekend restrictions with country-specific exceptional-transport rules. Operators moving heavy or oversized loads anywhere on the continent this weekend - not just on any single corridor - should expect Saturday and Sunday to be effectively closed to standard heavy-vehicle movement in most of the countries below, with additional corridor-specific and exceptional-transport rules layered on top.

Driving bans and exceptional-transport restrictions

Summer Saturday and Sunday driving ban (29-30 August 2026) (Germany)

A summer-holiday Saturday driving ban applies on the BALM-listed motorway and federal-road sections, on top of the standing nationwide Sunday driving ban - the two must not be conflated into one all-roads rule.

Where: Saturday: only the officially BALM-listed motorway and federal-road sections (not a nationwide all-roads ban). Sunday: the general nationwide network.
Affected vehicles: Goods vehicles (and combinations) over 7.5t gross vehicle weight; goods vehicles with trailers
When: Saturday 29 August 2026 07:00-20:00 (listed sections only); Sunday 30 August 2026 00:00-22:00 (nationwide)

Impact: Heavy goods vehicles and goods-vehicle-with-trailer combinations cannot use the BALM-listed sections on Saturday, and cannot operate anywhere in Germany on Sunday.

Recommended action: Check the current BALM list of affected Saturday sections before routing through Germany on 29 August; treat Sunday 30 August as a full nationwide stop for the affected categories.

Exemptions/conditions: Standard exemptions apply (e.g. perishable/livestock transport, empty runs to the nearest suitable depot) - always check the current BALM exemption list for the specific transport.

Source: BALM - LKW-Fahrverbote

Final summer-weekend HGV driving ban (28-30 August 2026) (Poland)

The last weekend of the 2026 Polish summer holiday driving-ban calendar restricts heavy vehicles and combinations above 12t.

Where: Nationwide Polish road network
Affected vehicles: Vehicles and combinations of vehicles above 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight
When: Friday 28 August 2026 18:00-22:00; Saturday 29 August 2026 08:00-14:00; Sunday 30 August 2026 08:00-22:00

Impact: Restricted vehicles cannot use the Polish road network during any of the three windows.

Recommended action: Plan Polish transit outside the three ban windows, and check the statutory exemption list if the transport may qualify.

Exemptions/conditions: Statutory exemptions exist (e.g. certain perishable/agricultural/international-transit categories) - check the current exemption list for the specific transport before assuming the ban applies without exception.

Source: WITD Radom - wakacyjne zakazy jazdy

Summer Friday/Saturday restriction plus the standard Sunday ban (28-30 August 2026) (Czechia)

A summer-specific Friday and Saturday restriction applies on motorways and Class I roads, in addition to - and with different hours than - the standard Sunday driving ban.

Where: Motorways and Class I roads
Affected vehicles: Vehicles above 7.5t; vehicles above 3.5t towing a trailer
When: Friday 28 August 2026 17:00-21:00 (summer restriction); Saturday 29 August 2026 07:00-13:00 (summer restriction); Sunday 30 August 2026 13:00-22:00 (standard Sunday ban)

Impact: Affected vehicles cannot use motorways and Class I roads during any of the three windows.

Recommended action: Plan Czech motorway/Class I transits outside all three windows; the Sunday hours are not the same as the Friday/Saturday summer-specific hours.

Exemptions/conditions: Individual exemptions (“povoleni”) can be granted by the Ministry of Transport for specific transports - check before assuming the ban applies without exception.

Source: Ministerstvo dopravy CR - Vyjimky ze zakazu jizdy

Section 39 seasonal weekend driving ban (29-30 August 2026) (Slovakia)

The Section 39 seasonal weekend driving ban applies on motorways, roads for motor vehicles, and Class I roads.

Where: Motorways, roads for motor vehicles, and Class I roads
Affected vehicles: Vehicles above 7.5t; vehicles above 3.5t towing a trailer
When: Saturday 29 August 2026 07:00-19:00; Sunday 30 August 2026 00:00-22:00

Impact: Affected vehicles cannot use motorways, roads for motor vehicles, or Class I roads during either window.

Recommended action: Plan Slovak transit outside the Saturday/Sunday windows; verify the current Section 39 exemption wording for the specific transport.

Exemptions/conditions: Section 39 sets out specific statutory exemptions - verify the current consolidated wording for the exact exemption list before relying on one.

Source: Slov-Lex - Zakon c. 8/2009 Z. z., Section 39

Ministerial Decree 325/2025 weekend driving ban (29-30 August 2026) (Italy)

The 2026 driving-ban calendar set by Ministerial Decree 325/2025 restricts goods vehicles above 7.5t outside built-up areas, and - per the decree - extends to exceptional vehicles/transports even when authorised, unless a specific exemption applies.

Where: Outside built-up areas, nationwide
Affected vehicles: Goods vehicles above 7.5t; per the decree, exceptional vehicles and exceptional transports even when authorised, unless a specific exemption or timing adjustment applies
When: Saturday 29 August 2026 08:00-16:00; Sunday 30 August 2026 07:00-22:00

Impact: Affected vehicles - including, per the decree, authorised exceptional transports without a specific exemption - cannot operate outside built-up areas during either window.

Recommended action: Do not assume an existing exceptional-transport authorisation exempts the movement from this weekend ban; check the decree’s specific exemptions for vehicles arriving from abroad or port traffic before departure.

Exemptions/conditions: The decree sets out specific exemptions and timing adjustments for vehicles arriving from abroad, port traffic, and other categories - always check the current decree text for the specific transport, including whether an existing exceptional-transport authorisation is still subject to the ban.

Source: Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti - Decreto n. 325/2025 Also see: MIT - Mezzi pesanti, calendario 2026 dei divieti di circolazione stradale

Exceptional-transport weekend movement ban (29 August 2026 12:00 to 31 August 2026 06:00) (France)

Exceptional transport (convoi exceptionnel) movement remains prohibited without the necessary departmental exemption, from Saturday midday to Monday morning (the window shifts around a public holiday - not applicable this week).

Where: Nationwide French road network
Affected vehicles: Exceptional transports (convois exceptionnels) without the necessary departmental exemption
When: Saturday 29 August 2026 12:00 to Monday 31 August 2026 06:00

Impact: Exceptional/oversized transports without a departmental exemption cannot move anywhere in France during this window - note it extends into the Monday of the following week.

Recommended action: Confirm the departmental exemption is in hand before Saturday midday; do not confuse this exceptional-transport rule with France’s separate general HGV weekend restrictions.

Exemptions/conditions: A departmental exemption (autorisation prefectorale) can permit movement during the ban window for a specific transport - this rule applies only in the absence of such an exemption. Distinct from France’s general HGV weekend restrictions, which follow a separate regime.

Source: Bison Fute - Regime general des transports exceptionnels

Summer weekend driving ban for heavy vehicles (29-30 August 2026) (Hungary)

The summer weekend driving ban for heavy vehicles above 7.5t applies nationwide.

Where: Nationwide Hungarian road network
Affected vehicles: Heavy vehicles above 7.5t
When: Saturday 29 August 2026 from 15:00; Sunday 30 August 2026 until 22:00

Impact: Heavy vehicles above 7.5t cannot operate on the Hungarian road network during the ban window.

Recommended action: Check again shortly before departure for a possible temporary relaxation announced during an official heat alert.

Exemptions/conditions: The competent minister may temporarily relax the restriction during an official heat alert - operators must recheck shortly before departure, since a relaxation is announced close to the date rather than in advance.

Source: WKO Aussenwirtschaft - Ungarn LKW-Wochenendfahrverbot

Nationwide weekend driving ban (29-30 August 2026) (Austria)

The standing nationwide weekend driving ban applies, with thresholds that differ by vehicle type: goods vehicles with trailers above 3.5t, standalone goods vehicles and articulated combinations above 7.5t, and self-propelled working machines above 7.5t.

Where: Nationwide Austrian road network
Affected vehicles: Goods vehicles with trailers above 3.5t; standalone goods vehicles above 7.5t; articulated combinations above 7.5t; self-propelled working machines above 7.5t - the threshold differs by vehicle type and must not be flattened to a single number
When: Saturday 29 August 2026 from 15:00; Sunday 30 August 2026 until 22:00

Impact: Affected vehicle categories cannot operate on the Austrian road network during the ban window - a single flat weight threshold must not be applied across all vehicle types.

Recommended action: Confirm which threshold applies to the specific vehicle/combination type before departure, and check the standard exemption list.

Exemptions/conditions: Standard Austrian weekend-ban exemptions apply (e.g. combined transport, certain perishable goods) - check the current exemption list for the specific transport.

Source: WKO - Fahrverbote in Oesterreich

Additional summer corridor restrictions (29 August 2026) (Austria)

On top of the general nationwide weekend ban, additional corridor-specific restrictions apply on the A10 Tauern Autobahn (both directions), the A12/A13/A14 and Brenner corridor under the valid summer rules, and on B178, B320, B177, B179, B181 and B182 - including A10/Knoten Pongau exit restrictions where covered by a valid order.

Where: A10 Tauern Autobahn (both directions); A12/A13/A14 and the Brenner corridor under the valid summer rules; B178, B320, B177, B179, B181, B182; A10/Knoten Pongau exit restrictions
Affected vehicles: Heavy goods vehicles and combinations, per the corridor-specific order
When: Saturday 29 August 2026: A10 Tauern Autobahn 07:00-15:00; B178/B320/B177/B179/B181/B182 08:00-15:00

Impact: These corridor restrictions apply in addition to, not instead of, the general nationwide weekend ban - genuine destination/origin traffic in the corridor may be exempt.

Recommended action: Check destination/origin-traffic exemption status before routing through the Tauern, Brenner, or listed B-road corridors on 29 August, and recheck the A10/Knoten Pongau exit restriction.

Exemptions/conditions: Destination and origin-traffic exemptions apply - a transport genuinely starting or ending within the restricted corridor is treated differently from through-traffic. Check the current order for the exact exemption conditions.

Source: WKO - LKW-Fahrverbote Oesterreich Ueberblick

Sunday and night driving ban (30 August 2026) (Switzerland)

The standing nightly driving ban (22:00-05:00, every day) applies as usual, together with the Sunday driving ban.

Where: Nationwide Swiss road network
Affected vehicles: Vehicles above 3.5t; articulated vehicles above 5t; vehicles towing a trailer above 3.5t
When: Nightly 22:00-05:00 (every day); Sunday 30 August 2026 full-day ban

Impact: Affected vehicles cannot move at night on any day, or at all on Sunday, without a special permit.

Recommended action: Apply for a Sonderbewilligung in advance for any required Sunday or night movement, and confirm how it interacts with any exceptional-transport permit already held for the same movement.

Exemptions/conditions: A special permit (“Sonderbewilligung”) can be requested for Sunday or night movements, and interacts with any separate exceptional-transport permit already held for the same movement - both must be checked.

Source: ASTRA - Sonntags- und Nachtfahrverbot Also see: ASTRA - Sonderbewilligungen Also see: ASTRA - Orientierung fuer Gesuchsteller

Operator checklist

Check every condition in the individual exceptional-transport permit before departure - a permit can carry its own timing or route conditions on top of the general rules below.
Verify national and regional exemptions for the specific vehicle category and cargo before assuming a ban applies without exception.
Reserve suitable parking before the restrictions begin - do not plan to still be en route when a ban window starts.
Recheck the Austria and Germany corridor-specific restrictions close to departure, since they apply in addition to (not instead of) the general nationwide bans.
Check for last-minute heat-related changes, particularly the possible ministerial relaxation of the Hungarian weekend ban during a heat alert.
Verify the live situation immediately before departure - national authorities can adjust restrictions on short notice.