Germany is situated in Central Europe in an area that stretches from the Alps, across the North European Plain to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. It is the second-most populous country in Europe after Russia, with 80.7 million people and is the seventh-largest country by area on the continent 357k kms.
Abnormal Loads Special authorisations are required for all abnormal load movements, which exceed German vehicle dimensions (including weight). Applications for authorisations must be made to the local transport authority ‘Strassenverkehrsamt’ closest to the point of entry into the country.
The responsible authorities vary from state to state. In some cases, all applications can be applied for at the lower traffic authorities on the municipal level; or a higher traffic authority on the state level is responsible (as in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg).
For information regarding all traffic authorities for ab-loads // Update correct path to download in pdf for format
For applications regarding oversized transports, go here for the information on axle-load, distance between axles.
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
For Ab-load permits, please visit the following link – Germany (transportoversize.eu)
If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must also complete a dangerous goods declaration. See guidance on moving dangerous goods
The information available for the carriage of Dangerous Goods in Germany is extensive. A link to a comprehensive guide of authorities to contact can be found below.
Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI)
Division G 16 Transport of Dangerous Goods
Robert-Schuman-Platz 1
Postfach 20 01 00 53175 BONN
Tel: +49 228 99300 2470
Fax: +49 228 99300 807 2470
E-mail: gudula-schwan@bmvi.bund.de
Heavy Goods Vehicles Road Tolls
In 2005, HGV tolls were introduced in Germany because of the German Federal Trunk Road Toll Act. Initially it was only levied on motorways or heavily used federal roads for vehicles weighing at least 7.5 tonnes. On 1 July 2018, the toll network was expanded and tolls were applied to all federal roads and motorways in Germany.
The full tolling system requires the installation of an electronic on-board unit (OBU) . Sensors collect information on the distance travelled over the circa 13,000 kilometres of the German motorway network and calculate the fees to be invoiced to the operator. This calculation is based on the rate per kilometre travelled and is determined by the Euro level of emissions from the engine and the number of axles on the vehicle. The amount owing each month is collected by direct debit. The operation of the entire system is handled by a company known as “Toll Collect”.
All vehicles and vehicle combinations with a gross vehicle weight of 7.5 tonnes or more are subject to pay the toll. The gross vehicle weight specified by the keeper at the time the vehicle was registered is usually saved permanently on the On-Board Unit.
If the gross vehicle weight changes due to a trailer being attached/detached, the gross vehicle weight must be adjusted on the OBU before starting a journey.
This applies to all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight up to and including 18 tonnes. Above 18 tonnes, the axles must also be specified (≤3 axles or ≥4 axles).
For vehicles or vehicle combinations with a gross vehicle weight less than 18 tonnes, it is optional to enter the number of axles.
Vehicles without OBUs are still able to use the motorway network by pre-paying fees using payment points which accept cash, credit cards, certain authorised fuel cards and Toll Collect top up cards rather like those used by mobile telephone operators.
To give an idea of the amounts of money charged for the use of the German road network, a single journey for a 40 tonne Euro 6 truck travelling from Hamburg to Munich (a distance of over 600 kilometres) would cost around €150.
There are only two tunnels that charge a toll to use, both are in North Germany and are restricted to vehicles 3.5 tonnes or less. The tunnels are the Herren and Warnow Tunnel
Driving ban on Saturdays starting from 01 July to 31 August between 07:00 and 20:00 hrs for vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonne GVW and for road trains on high traffic motorways and trunk roads in both directions.
On Sundays and public holidays between 00:00 and 22:00 hrs for vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes GVW and for road trains on all roads.
Speed Limits for HGV’s over 3.5t The following speed limits are applicable to HGVs: Urban Roads – 50km/hr Non-Urban Roads – 60km/hr (up to 7.5 tonne 80km/hr) Motorways/Expressways – 80km/hr
NB: In Inclement weather, fog, rain and snow, speed limits are reduced.
Initially, the ‘Cats Back’ was max speed 25 km/hr (1977), spaced speed cameras and a police car halfway down the hill.
The sign above was at the top of the hill on the A3 Motorway at Elzer Berg. The hill is now crowned with windmill turbines. The two photos below are then (circa 80’s or 90’s) and now.
The legal limit is zero for professional drivers; penalties for driving under the influence are strict.
The German enforcement authority (BAG) will check loads on commercial vehicles for load security. Where vehicles are deemed to have insufficient load restraint, vehicles will be prevented from further movement until the load is secured according to the enforcement officer’s satisfaction.
With more and more EU member states implementing Load Safety Best Practice and penalising operators/drivers for failure to implement. We advise operators to read the EU Load Safety Guidelines, which can be downloaded from below.
Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.
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
In addition to essential documents, drivers are also required by law to carry the following items to avoid hefty on-the-spot fines:
It is advised that all HGVs carry a first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
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’:
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.
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
Federal Association for Freight Transport Logistics and Disposal (BGL) eV
Breitenbachstrasse 1
60487 Frankfurt am Main
Tel: +49 (069) 79 19-0
Web: http://www.bgl-ev.de/web/home/index.htm
Main address
Werderstraße 34
50672 Köln
Nordrhein-Westfalen
Deutschland
Tel: +49 221 5776-0
Online Form: Contact form – Federal Office for Goods Transport (bund.de)
Consular Section
Wilhelmstraße 70/71
10117 Berlin, Germany
Telephone: +49 (0) 30 204570
