France is located in Western Europe, and it borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean to the south. Spain is the land to the south of France, and multiple countries including Germany are to the east.
Abnormal Road Movements
Abnormal Loads Special authorisations are required for all abnormal load movements, which exceed French vehicle dimensions (including weight). Applications for authorisations must be made to the ‘Directorate of Equipment’ of the prefecture of entry into France and every prefecture where the load is to move through en route to its destination.
Officially an abnormal load (or wide load) is over a width of 2.5 metres, over 4 metres in height or over the weight limit for the particular country it needs to travel through (for example 44 tonnes in the UK or 40 tonnes in France).
Abnormal loads cannot move if the weather conditions include, snow, ice and fog or when visibility is below 200 metres.
Ab-Load warning Sign Checks
Police in France are very strictly checking abnormal loads for the correct warning signs and lights. If the signs do not adhere to the rules or the lights suffer failure or malfunction, the haulier will be fined and prevented from continuing on their journey until everything is in order.
Ab-load-restrictions-France.pdf
All abnormal load operators will require a keeper’s certificate to prove ownership of the trailer, which must be carried as part of the vehicle documents at all times.
EU Directive – Within the European Union (EC), the Council Directive 96/53/EC gives information about the permissible dimensions and weights for road vehicles in international traffic. Vehicle combinations (trucks with ordinary trailers or semi-trailers) which comply with the criteria specified here may travel on roads within the EU without a special permit. The size and weight limits set by the Council Directive are summarised in the tables at the link here
Carriage of Dangerous Goods
If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must also complete a dangerous goods declaration. See guidance on moving dangerous goods
Main Competent Authority
Ministère de la transition écologique
DGPR/SRT/SDRA
Mission Transport de matières dangereuses
Tour Sequoia
F – 92055 LA DEFENSE CEDEX
Tel: +33 1 40 81 17 38
Fax: +33 1 40 81 86 41
Email: mtmd.sdra.srt.dgpr@developpement-durable.gouv.fr
Class 7
Autorité de sûreté nucléaire
15 Rue Louis Lejeune – CS 70013
92541 MONTROUGE CEDEX
Tel: +33 1 46 16 40 00
Web: Nuclear Safety Authority – ASN
For further information concerning ADR – France_2021-03.pdf (unece.org)
Weekend and public holiday Driving Bans
Starting from the last Saturday of July until the last Saturday of August, there is an additional driving ban on Saturdays between 07:00 and 19:00 hrs and on the following Sundays between 00:00 and 22:00 hrs for trucks and road trains exceeding 7,5 t gross weight on all roads and for vehicles carrying hazardous goods regardless of the weight as well. (On these Saturdays, it is allowed to drive between 19:00 and 24:00 hrs!).
There is an exception of the Sundays and public holidays driving ban regarding the driving to/from Port of Calais (the so-called “Corridor de Ghyvelde”). It includes exclusively the A16 from Calais to Belgium (border De Panne) and return, but not A26 nor A27. This exception is not valid for transport of hazardous goods. This exception is valid in both directions for vehicles traveling between the United Kingdom and Belgium (it means international traffic that actually use the ferry).
General driving ban on Saturdays as well the day before a public holiday from 22:00 until 22:00 hrs on Sundays or the holiday itself for vehicles exceeding 7,5 t gross weight on all roads. As well as on Saturdays (which are public holidays) and on Sundays before a public holiday from 00:00 until 24:00 hrs.
Heavy Goods Vehicles Road Tolls
The toll system in France is used for charging motorways; fees are paid when passing through tollgates on the motorway. Tolls for the use of certain tunnels and bridges are levied in the same way.
In addition to classic payment methods such as cash, credit card or electronic unit, a free flow system can be used on several motorways and tolls can be paid without stopping with a mobile application. A price category of vehicles is determined by the height, number of axles and mass or emission class of the vehicle.
Tunnels
Fréjus and Mont Blanc Tunnels
The Fréjus and Mont Blanc Tunnels connect France and Italy.
The Fréjus Tunnel is 12.8 km long. On the French side the A43 (Maurienne Motorway) from Lyon leads to the tunnel, on the Italian side it is the A32 motorway from Turin. For updated information on tariffs, weather conditions, roadworks and transport restrictions, visit:
http://www.tunneldufrejus.com/
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is 11.6 km long. On the French side, the A40 motorway leads to the tunnel, on the Italian side it is the A5 motorway. For updated information on tariffs, weather conditions, roadworks and transport restrictions, visit:
Toll tariff is dependent on vehicle height, the number of axles and the EURO emission class.
Bridges
Pont de Normandie
The Pont de Normandie, near Honfleur, is part of the estuary road A29, which follows the French West Coast and connects Antwerp or even London to the South of France, without passing Paris. The bridge gives easy access to the area around the port Le Havre.
Pont de Tancarville
The Pont de Tancarville between Rouen and Le Havre is the longest suspension bridge in France. It spans the river Seine and lies on the road E5, connecting the Port Le Havre with Rouen and Paris. For updated information on tariffs, weather conditions, roadworks and transport restrictions, visit https://www.pontsnormandietancarville.fr/
Viaduc de Millau
Culminating at 343 metres above the Tarn valley, the viaduct makes the final missing link on the A75. This motorway – the Méridienne – links Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers in 340 km.
Thanks to the viaduct, the A10-A71-A75 route represents the shortest, fastest and cheapest way between Paris and Perpignan, saving 1hr 17mins versus the traditional Lyon route!
For updated information on tariffs, weather conditions, roadworks and transport restrictions, visit https://www.leviaducdemillau.com/fr
Driver & Vehicle Documentation
Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.
Permits
Check which international road haulage permits you need.
Check which international road haulage permits you need – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Find out how to apply for bilateral international road haulage permits and the rules you have to follow at the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-permits-for-some-non-eu-countries
To find out more about ECMT Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ecmt-international-road-haulage-permits
To find out more about ECMT International Removal Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-removal-permits
Speed Limits for HGV’s over 3.5t
The following speed limits are applicable to HGVs:
Drink Driving
The legal limit is 0.5mg of alcohol per litre of blood, or a breath alcohol level of 0.22 mg/litre. For professional bus and coach drivers, the limit is 0.2mg per litre of blood (BAC).
Secure parking
A1 Vermars west service area, southbound Lille-Paris only (Just before Paris)
A1 Exit 20 – Lesquin, near Lille
A2 Valenciennes, exit 20 (Between Paris & Brussels) Off motorway park with 300 spaces.
A10 junction 11 A10/A83 interchange. Off motorway, secure parking for 40 trucks
A16 exit 48 near Calais Transmarck Polley secured Lorry Park. Off motorway, 210 spaces.
A16 exit 48 near Calais All4Trucks secured Lorry Park. Off motorway, 150 ->300 spaces.
A31 Junction 6, Langres south (between Reims and Dijon or Nancy & Dijon) Private off-motorway park.
A43 L’Ile d’Abeau North service area, between Chambery and Lyon, Lyon direction only.
A46 Lyon eastern orbital motorway. Communay service area secure truck park, south of Lyon
A7 Montelimar east service area. Between Lyon and Avignon 129 places
A9 Lunel interchange. Near Nimes between Avignon and Montpellier 149 spaces.
A9 Beziers – Exit 36 Beziers west. Off motorway park with 330 spaces
A9 Narbonne – Exit 38 Narbonne south. Euro-Diesel Services truck park. Off motorway
Other Items Required
In addition to required documents, motorists are also required by law to carry the following items when driving to avoid hefty on-the-spot fines:
Drivers that are on prescribed medication must carry a copy of their prescription or detail of the medicines.
Using mobile phones unless they are hands-free is illegal, and snow chains are compulsory anywhere where there are road signs indicating they must be used – ‘Equipments Speciaux Obligatories’.
You are required by law to carry the following items:
Items you should not take into France
Be aware that you cannot take the following with you:
You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘Phytosanitary certificate’:
Seat belts
Seat belts must be worn. The penalty for failing to wear a seat belt is set at €135, reduced to €90 if paid within 15 days.
In an emergency
112 – You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you are visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.
Low Emission Zones
A number of regions have low emission zones for Lorries. These LEZs also affect the cities within those regions. For further information on LEZ’s
Transport Organisations
Association Francais du Routier International (AFTRI)
48 rue de la Bienfaisance
75008 Paris
Tel: +33 (1) 53 53 02 40
National Federation of Road Transport: https://www.fntr.fr/
British Embassy
35, rue du Faubourg St Honoré
Paris Cedex 08
75383 Paris
France
Telephone – +33 (0) 1 44 51 31 00
Web: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-paris
