March marks the transition into spring, but early-month conditions in Eastern Europe remain wintry. Baltic states introduce seasonal axle load restrictions, and Easter weekend bans — falling in early April — begin to affect planning for cross-border March deliveries.

HGV Driving Bans — March 2026

• 🇱🇹 Lithuania — March 1–April 1 — Seasonal axle load restrictions on secondary roads
• 🇱🇻 Latvia — March 1–May 1 — Seasonal load limits on softening roads due to thaw
• 🇩🇪 Germany — March 29 (Sunday) — Standard Sunday HGV ban, all trucks over 7.5t

Weather Conditions

Thaw conditions in Poland and the Baltics create road surface instability on secondary routes. Primary motorways remain unaffected but expect surface water and reduced grip on regional roads through mid-March.

What This Means for Carriers

Axle load compliance on Baltic secondary routes becomes a priority from March 1. Check permitted axle weights before routing through Lithuania and Latvia on non-motorway roads. Easter weekend planning should begin now for operations that span the end of March into early April.

February 2026 brings a quieter month for holiday bans, though Carnival-related restrictions in parts of Italy and Austria create localized disruptions. Alpine passes remain under winter weather protocols throughout the month.

HGV Driving Bans — February 2026

• 🇮🇹 Italy — February 8 (Carnival Sunday) — 09:00–22:00 — Vehicles over 7.5t
• 🇦🇹 Austria — February 14–15 — Standard weekend restrictions apply

Winter Conditions

Alpine regions continue to experience heavy snowfall in February. The Brenner corridor and Mont Blanc tunnel approaches are most frequently affected. Operators should expect delays of 1–3 hours on peak days.

What This Means for Carriers

February is operationally more predictable than January, but Alpine corridor conditions require ongoing attention. Build buffer time into schedules involving the Brenner, Frejus, and Mont Blanc crossings throughout the month.

January 2026 presents a challenging month on European roads — not only due to holiday HGV driving bans, but also exceptionally difficult winter weather conditions that may cause serious disruptions to both local and international transport from the very start of the year. The following information is relevant to truck and HGV drivers and logistics managers.

HGV Driving Bans — January 2026

Additional holiday bans in January apply only on New Year’s Day and Epiphany. All other days follow standard weekend, nighttime, or territorial restrictions depending on the country.

January 1 — New Year’s Day (Thursday)

• 🇦🇹 Austria — 00:00–22:00 — Vehicles with trailers over 3.5t; heavy vehicles and combinations over 7.5t
• 🇭🇷 Croatia — 14:00–23:00 — Vehicles over 7.5t or longer than 14m
• 🇨🇿 Czech Republic — 13:00–22:00 — Trucks and combinations over 7.5t
• 🇫🇷 France — 00:00–22:00 — Vehicles over 7.5t
• 🇱🇺 Luxembourg — 00:00–21:45 — All trucks over 7.5t with or without trailer
• 🇩🇪 Germany — 00:00–22:00 — Trucks over 7.5t and trucks with trailers
• 🇵🇱 Poland — 08:00–22:00 — Trucks over 12t
• 🇸🇰 Slovakia — 00:00–22:00 — All trucks and combinations over 7.5t
• 🇸🇮 Slovenia — 08:00–22:00 — Vehicles over 7.5t
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland — 00:00–24:00 — Vehicles over 3.5t
• 🇭🇺 Hungary — 00:00–22:00 — Trucks and tractors with trailers over 7.5t
• 🇮🇹 Italy — 09:00–22:00 — Heavy vehicles and combinations over 7.5t

January 2 (Friday)

• 🇸🇮 Slovenia — 08:00–22:00

January 6 — Epiphany (Tuesday)

• 🇦🇹 Austria — 00:00–22:00
• 🇭🇷 Croatia — 14:00–23:00
• 🇸🇰 Slovakia — 00:00–22:00
• 🇮🇹 Italy — 09:00–22:00

Winter Conditions — Storms and Major Disruptions

Beyond formal bans, early January 2026 may see severe winter storms across Europe. Meteorologists projected one of the most intense snowfall episodes in recent years.

🇵🇱 Poland — Storm Epicenter

• Dec 29–30: Northern Poland (Warmia-Masuria voivodeship)
• Dec 31: Snow covers almost the entire country; congestion and paralysis expected
• Jan 1: Heavy blizzards in West Pomerania, Pomerania, and Warmia-Masuria
• Jan 2: Another intense wave affecting international routes
• Jan 4: Very heavy precipitation in Lower Silesia, particularly on routes toward Germany and Czech Republic

Persistent sub-zero temperatures mean snow will not thaw. Roads will frequently be icy, significantly increasing accident and delay risk.

Rest of Europe

• Eastern France, Central Italy, parts of Spain — snow and storm risk
• Norway, Sweden, Finland — severe storms already recorded; strong winds causing significant disruptions

What This Means for Carriers

Route planning becomes critical. Both holiday bans and weather risks must be factored in simultaneously — a route that is legally permitted may still be operationally unsafe or severely delayed.

Extended standstill periods are likely, particularly around the New Year week. Drivers should be prepared for extended rest stops and operators should build buffer time into delivery commitments.

Real-time traffic and weather monitoring is strongly recommended, especially when crossing Poland and Central Europe. FleetIntel.ai continues to monitor the situation and will report on significant developments affecting HGV traffic across Europe.

Commission publishes new recommendations on sustainable rural mobility and ecotourism

The European Commission has published new guidelines for the development of sustainable rural mobility and ecotourism. These guidelines should help Europe’s rural regions adapt to the challenges of transport infrastructure and tourism development, thus ensuring sustainable development.

Why is this important?

Rural regions often face unique challenges, such as poor transport or limited services. This not only hampers the daily activities of the local population, but also limits tourism potential. The new guidelines should help to address these challenges, stimulate innovation and ensure that rural regions remain attractive for both residents and visitors.

Main lines of guidance

The Commission’s recommendations cover several important areas:

• Transport accessibility: the development of alternative transport modes such as public transport, cycle paths and electric vehicle infrastructure is encouraged.
• Ecotourism: Promotes projects that protect nature while attracting visitors, enabling local businesses.
• Innovation: solutions such as transport sharing or integrated mobile apps that facilitate mobility in rural regions.
• Involving communities: an important aspect is the involvement of local communities in projects to ensure that they meet their needs.

What benefits can be expected?

The implementation of these recommendations is expected to lead to a number of important results:

1. Improved standard of living: better transport and services will improve the daily experience of rural residents.
2. Economic stimulation: the development of ecotourism will attract more visitors, which will allow local businesses to expand.
3. Nature conservation: sustainable practices will ensure that tourism does not harm nature, and even improves it.

How will this work in practice?

These guidelines are not hard and fast rules, but rather recommendations that can be adapted by different regions. The Commission proposes to use EU funding programmes, such as the Rural Development Fund, to implement the necessary projects. It also encourages cooperation between public authorities, private companies and local communities.

For example, one proposed solution is the development of integrated mobile apps that combine public transport, bike rental and even walking routes. Such innovations should help visitors and residents move around rural areas more easily.

Other important aspects

In addition to transport and tourism, the guidelines also address community empowerment. Local people should be able to participate in decision-making to ensure that all projects meet their needs. This will ensure that development initiatives are not only effective but also socially just.

The European Commission hopes that these guidelines will be a valuable tool to help rural regions achieve their sustainability objectives and create an attractive environment for residents and visitors alike. If you are interested in more information, you can find more details HERE.

Recommendations to Member States to combat transport poverty and promote fair, sustainable mobility

Transport poverty is a problem facing many European countries. It means that different social groups do not have sufficient access to quality transport services, which limits their ability to work, study or participate in public life. As transport is one of the key enablers of social cohesion, the European Commission has made recommendations to Member States to help tackle this problem and promote fair and sustainable mobility by 2025.

What is transport poverty?

Transport poverty refers to situations where people do not have access to transport services because of financial, geographical or other limiting factors. This can include:

• Inadequate public transport infrastructure.
• High transport prices that are too high for low-income groups.
• Inaccessibility in regions with weak or non-existent transport networks.

Such situations represent a major obstacle to people’s quality of life, especially for those living in remote areas or belonging to vulnerable groups.

Key recommendations from the European Commission

The European Commission stresses that Member States should take concrete action to reduce transport poverty and promote fair and sustainable mobility. Here are the main recommendations:

1. Increase the use of public transport: investment in public transport infrastructure is needed, especially in regions where it is inadequate. Concessions should also be provided for low-income groups.
2. Focus on regions: countries should ensure that transport services are not only available in cities, but also in the most remote areas.
3. Allocate funding: sufficient financial resources must be allocated to transport projects that promote sustainability and accessibility.
4. Involve the public: it is important to involve local communities and vulnerable groups in the decision-making process so that their needs are heard.
5. Focus on the environment: the transport system needs to be not only affordable, but also sustainable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

How will these recommendations help?

The following results can be expected from the implementation of these recommendations:

• Accessibility for all: Transport services will become more accessible to all social groups, regardless of their income or place of residence.
• Social cohesion: social exclusion will be reduced and people will be able to participate more effectively in economic and social life.
• Sustainability: investing in green transport systems will reduce negative environmental impacts.

What next?

The European Commission urges Member States to act swiftly to implement these recommendations. This will require not only financial investment, but also political commitment and cooperation between government, the private sector and society. Only by acting together can we achieve a fair and sustainable transport system that is accessible to all.

To find out more about these recommendations, visit the European Commission website.

Commission calls for consultation on revision of European rail passenger rights

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to review rail passengers’ rights. This process is important to ensure that Europe’s railways meet today’s needs and provide the best possible service.

What is the aim of this initiative?

The main objective is to assess how current rail passenger rights work in practice and to identify areas for improvement. The Commission wants to ensure that all passengers, wherever they travel in Europe, have the same rights and high quality services.

Why is this important?

Railways are increasingly becoming an important means of transport, especially in the context of environmental and sustainable development objectives. However, for rail to compete with other modes of transport, passenger rights must be clear and effectively enforced.

How can you contribute?

The Commission invites all interested parties, including passengers, railway companies and non-governmental organisations, to submit their views and suggestions. Your input can help shape new rules that will make rail travel more comfortable and safer for everyone.

The main areas to be addressed are

• Information: How do passengers get information about their rights and travel conditions?
• Compensation: how does the current compensation for delayed or cancelled trains affect passengers?
• Accessibility: are the railways sufficiently accessible for people with disabilities?
• Safety: what measures are in place to ensure passenger safety?

How do I make my voice heard?

If you want to contribute, you can fill in the public consultation on the Commission website. The consultation will run until 28 July 2025. Your input can have a real impact on future rail policies.

What is the benefit?

Your involvement can help develop rules that reflect the real needs and experiences of passengers. This is important not only for the development of the European rail system, but also for your own future travel.

Don’t miss the opportunity to contribute to improving European rail passenger rights. Your voice is important for effective and fair rules.

If you are planning to travel via the former Zwardon border crossing between Poland and Slovakia, please note the following changes.

🗓 When?
From 31 July to 1 August

🚫 What’s changing?
The entrance to the Zwardon border terminal will be completely closed both from the Polish side (over the bridge) and from the Slovak side. You will not be able to enter or leave.

🔧 Why?
A new layer of asphalt will be laid, so traffic will be stopped completely.

What should drivers and hauliers do?

• Look out for other border crossings these days.

• Plan your route in advance – traffic will be completely stopped.

• There may be congestion and additional disruption in surrounding areas.

Follow FleetIntel’s map for updates on works and road restrictions.