(Still) No truck toll for 3.5 ton trucks

In occasion of the state chamber's statement on the government's draft amendment to the toll law, the German Bundesrat voted on 8th June against extending the toll to trucks up to 3.5 tonnes. This is news that certainly makes many drivers of vans breath a sigh of relief, but at the same time also causes dissatisfaction among some politicians. In particular, Baden-Württemberg's Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens), remains of the opposite opinion.   

Hermann had previously strongly advocated the inclusion of this vehicle class in the plenary session. Reason, the need to stop - or at least significantly reduce - the so-called "latency" of long-distance freight transport. Subject to fewer restrictions than trucks of higher classes, small trucks are strongly represented in freight transport and often replace larger trucks. According to the state minister, however, this development entails several negative aspects. On the one hand, the distribution of goods among many small trucks contradicts the principle of saving energy and avoiding traffic. On the other hand, it also endangers road safety. Without a speed limit and without reliable recording of driving and rest times, it would be more difficult to regulate their traffic and thus contribute to ensuring road safety.  

Despite the state transport minister's appeal, however, the Bundesrat is not yet in favour of extending the compulsory toll for vans. Instead, he said, it had followed the plans of the traffic light government and voted in the bill for toll exemption for all trucks in the pre- and onward carriage to combined transport. Toll-free, all trucks will be allowed to travel a distance of up to 50 kilometres from the connection point with freight transport. The exemption from the HGV toll was "urgently needed here and makes a significant contribution to the transport turnaround and to sustainable freight transport." In addition, "an updated cost assessment of the infrastructure toll share" is also required in view of today's inflation, as the last road cost reports do not yet take into account the latest cost increases.  

However, should Minister Hermann be able to push through his plans in the future, drivers of vans will not only face higher costs; they will also be subject to further restrictions. Due to their pollution potential - which is caused not only by exhausts, but also in the context of increased tyre wear - 3.5 tonne trucks are already affected by many driving restrictions. Among other things, they are affected by the regulations of the ever-increasing number of environmental zones, which should already be handled with care in order to avoid fines. If the toll is extended, van drivers will have to be aware of many more entry regulations.