Carriers must account for Sunday bans, the final seasonal restrictions on Alpine and coastal routes, and separate regional rules in Spain
International road freight operators will face truck traffic restrictions across several European countries in September 2026. The rules vary by vehicle weight, road, direction of travel and time of day.
Particular attention should be paid to the Brenner Corridor, Slovenia and Croatia, where year-round restrictions overlap with the final weekend of the summer traffic regime. All times below are local.
Main September Restrictions
| Country | Dates and times | Main scope |
| Italy | September 6, 13, 20 and 27, 07:00–22:00 | Goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes on roads outside urban areas |
| Austria | September 5, 12, 19 and 26, 07:00–15:00 | Certain southbound journeys on the A12, A13 and A14 via the Brenner |
| Germany | September 6, 13, 20 and 27, 00:00–22:00 | Trucks above 7.5 tonnes and goods vehicles with trailers |
| France | Every weekend, Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 | Goods vehicles and combinations above 7.5 tonnes |
| Switzerland | Sundays all day; every night 22:00–05:00 | Vehicles above 3.5 tonnes and specified combinations |
| Czechia | September 6, 13, 20 and 27, 13:00–22:00 | Motorways and first-class roads |
| Slovenia | Sundays 08:00–22:00; additional seasonal ban on September 5 | Goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes |
| Croatia | September 5 and 12, 04:00–14:00; September 6 and 13, 12:00–23:00 | Selected roads in Istria and along the Adriatic coast |
| Spain | Specific dates, regions and routes | No uniform nationwide Sunday ban |
Italy: Four Sunday Bans
According to the official 2026 calendar published by Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes will be prohibited from using roads outside built-up areas on September 6, 13, 20 and 27 between 07:00 and 22:00.
Separate time allowances apply to vehicles arriving from or travelling abroad. The decree also provides exemptions for qualifying intermodal operations, perishable goods, fuel, live animals and emergency services, subject to the required documentation.
Austria: Brenner Restrictions Continue Until September 26
A special Saturday ban will apply on September 5, 12, 19 and 26 between 07:00 and 15:00 on the A12, A13 and A14.
According to ASFINAG’s official Brenner Corridor information, the restriction affects trucks above 7.5 tonnes whose southbound route includes the A13 section between Nößlach and the Brenner border. It therefore applies to journeys towards Italy or destinations reached through Italy.
The additional northbound Saturday restrictions for journeys from Italy towards Innsbruck ended on August 29.
Germany: Only the Regular Sunday Ban Remains
Germany’s additional summer Saturday restrictions expire on August 31. In September, the standard Sunday and public-holiday ban will remain in force nationwide from 00:00 to 22:00.
The German Federal Ministry for Transport states that the ban covers trucks above 7.5 tonnes and goods vehicles with trailers used for commercial transport.
Exemptions include qualifying combined transport, certain perishable products, live animals, emergency vehicles and empty journeys directly connected with an exempt operation.
France and Switzerland Maintain Longer Restrictions
France prohibits goods vehicles and combinations above 7.5 tonnes from travelling between 22:00 on Saturday and 22:00 on Sunday. The nationwide framework and its exemptions are established by the official French regulation.
Switzerland applies both a Sunday ban and a daily night ban from 22:00 to 05:00. According to the Swiss Federal Roads Office, the rules cover vehicles above 3.5 tonnes, articulated vehicles above a five-tonne permitted combination weight and vehicles towing trailers above 3.5 tonnes.
Special cantonal permits may be requested when a Sunday or night journey cannot reasonably be avoided.
Czechia: Restrictions Apply on Sunday Afternoons
In Czechia, trucks above 7.5 tonnes are prohibited from using motorways and first-class roads on Sundays between 13:00 and 22:00. The restriction can also apply to goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes towing a trailer.
The additional summer Friday and Saturday restrictions end on August 31. Information about enforcement and exemptions is available from the Czech Ministry of Transport.
Slovenia: Special Rules During the First Weekend
Slovenia’s standard Sunday and public-holiday ban applies to goods vehicles above 7.5 tonnes from 08:00 to 22:00.
The 2026 summer regime remains in force through September 6. According to the official Promet.si traffic information service, restrictions on Saturday, September 5, will apply:
- from 08:00 to 13:00 on routes covered by the general seasonal regime;
- from 06:00 to 16:00 on selected coastal motorways and state roads.
On September 6, the ban will run from 08:00 to 22:00. The standard 08:00–22:00 Sunday restriction will apply on September 13, 20 and 27.
Croatia: Coastal Restrictions Remain Until Mid-September
The Croatian Automobile Club’s official calendar confirms that seasonal restrictions for trucks above 7.5 tonnes remain effective until September 15:
- September 5 and 12 — 04:00–14:00;
- September 6 and 13 — 12:00–23:00.
The ban applies to selected state roads in Istria and along the Adriatic coast, including approaches to the Split and Zadar ferry ports. It is not a nationwide restriction, and motorways and state road DC1 are excluded from the main seasonal regime.
Spain Requires Route-Specific Checks
Spain does not impose a uniform nationwide Sunday ban comparable to those in Germany or Italy. Restrictions are introduced for particular dates, directions and road sections where heavy traffic is expected.
Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic publishes downloadable calendars and a live restriction map covering trucks above 7.5 tonnes, dangerous goods and special transport.
DGT rules do not cover Catalonia, the Basque Country or Navarre, which exercise their own traffic-management powers. Operators travelling through these regions must check the relevant regional regulations separately.
Route Planning Will Be Critical
September is a transition month. Germany and Czechia end their summer Saturday restrictions, while Slovenia and Croatia retain seasonal measures during the first part of the month. The special southbound Brenner regime continues until September 26.
Dispatchers should verify every country and road section along the route, reserve suitable parking, account for drivers’ hours and ensure that all documents supporting an exemption are carried in the vehicle. Operational restrictions should also be checked again immediately before departure, as temporary measures and local exemptions can change.
Read also: Europe Introduces Summer Truck Driving Restrictions for 2026
