Switzerland is small but it is a relatively densely populated by comparison. The overall surface area here is 41,285 square kilometres: a figure, which can be converted to 15,940 square miles. The population of Switzerland is circa 8.5 million.
Abnormal Road Movements
Vehicles, which, because of their load, do not conform to the regulations concerning weights and dimensions as detailed below, require special authorisation. For vehicles carrying out import and transit operations in international traffic, authorisations are issued by the Federal Office of Roads and requests should be sent at least seven working days before the beginning of the operation to:
Federal Roads Office
Pulverstrasse 13
3063 Ittigen
Switzerland
Postal address
Federal Roads Office (FEDRO)
CH – 3003 Bern
Tel: +41 (58) 462 94 11
Web: Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) (admin.ch)
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
Main Competent Authority
Federal Department of the Environment
Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC
Federal Roads Office
Postal address: CH-3003 BERN
Tel.: +41 58 462 94 11
E-mail: info@astra.admin.ch
Web: www.astra.admin.ch
Dangerous goods packaging and tanks:
E-mail: info@bav.admin.ch
Web: www.bav.admin.ch
Class 7
Approval of special form. Calculation of unlisted A values. Approvals and notifications for all type B packages, fissile packages, shipment and special arrangements:
Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate
Transports and Predisposal Section
CH – 5200 Brugg
Tel: +41 56 460 8618
Fax: +41 56 460 8499
Import, export, transport and transit licences for nuclear materials and nuclear wastes:
Federal Office of Energy
Nuclear Energy Section
CH – 3003 BERN
Tel: +41 58 462 56 32 or +41 58 462 56 31
Fax: +41 58 463 25 00
Copy of Application to:
Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate
Transport and Predisposal Section
CH – 5200 Brugg
Licences for the import/export and movement of non-nuclear material (radioactive sources and material) and carriers’ licences for radioactive materials:
Federal Office of Public Health
Division of Radiation Protection
CH – 3003 BERN
Tel: +41 58 462 96 14
Email: str@bag.admin.ch
Notification according to 1.9.4
Switzerland submitted a notification concerning the additional restrictions to national and International Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road (French, German and Italian)
Notification according to 1.9.5 (Tunnel restrictions)
Switzerland submitted a notification concerning tunnel restrictions (French, German and Italian)
Tunnels
Application for permission to carry ADR goods through specific tunnels – Application for transit through tunnels with dangerous goods (ADR) (admin.ch)
If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must also complete a dangerous goods declaration. See guidance on moving dangerous goods
Heavy Goods Vehicles Road Tolls
There is a toll payable on the road network in Switzerland for HGVs referred to as the Heavy Vehicle Tax. For the payment of tolls for vehicles weighing more than 3.5 t, the HVC toll unit, ID card and terminal, or lump sum fee is determined according to the category and the vehicle registration country.
In the south of the country, on the border with Italy, there are two tunnels with toll collections applicable being:
Weekend and public holiday Driving Bans
Driving ban on all roads on Sundays and on public holidays between 00:00 and 24:00 hrs for vehicles exceeding 3,5 t gross weight and for road trains exceeding 5 t.
Night driving ban on all roads in the night hours between 22:00 and 05:00 hrs for vehicles exceeding 3.5 t gross weight and for road trains exceeding 5 t.
Speed Limits for HGV’s over 3.5t
The following speed limits are applicable to HGVs:
Drink Driving
The legal limit is 0.01mg of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood (0.1 BAC) for professional drivers; penalties for driving under the influence are severe.
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:
Items you should not take into Switzerland
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 are mandatory in Switzerland, failure to wear it will result in a 60 CHF (£50*) fine.
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 Organisation
Astag
Swiss Commercial Transport Association
Wölflistrasse 5
3006 Bern
Tel: 031 370 85 85
Email: astag@astag.ch
Web: https://www.astag.ch
British Embassy
Thunstrasse 50
3005 Berne
Switzerland
Telephone: +41 (0)31 359 7700 (available 24/7)
