The Christmas and New Year period brings additional challenges for European road transport. Besides increased traffic volumes, many countries apply temporary truck driving bans, which may directly affect your deliveries, transport planning and operational costs.
At Axell Logistics, we believe that timely and accurate information is essential. Below you will find a clear overview of the most relevant truck driving restrictions during Christmas and New Year 2025/2026, helping you plan your logistics with confidence.
European truck driving bans during the holidays
Across Europe, many countries enforce driving bans for heavy goods vehicles during public holidays. These regulations vary by country, vehicle weight, and time window, and are a crucial factor in international transport planning.
If you would like to verify country-specific driving bans and dates, you may consult external, up-to-date sources such as trafficban.com, which provides an overview of restrictions per country and date.
We recommend using this information as support and combining it with professional transport planning.
Truck driving bans in the Netherlands
The Netherlands does not apply a general truck driving ban during Christmas and New Year.
However, restrictions may apply to:
- abnormal or exceptional transport
- specific routes or local regulations
For domestic transport, this generally offers more flexibility, although careful coordination remains essential.
Truck driving bans in Poland
In Poland, a driving ban applies to trucks over 12 tonnes on:
- 25 December
- 26 December
- 1 January
Time: 08:00 – 22:00
For transport between the Netherlands and Poland, precise timing and route planning are essential to avoid delays.
Truck driving bans in Germany
In Germany, trucks with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tonnes are subject to a driving ban on:
- 25 December 2025
- 26 December 2025
- 1 January 2026
Time: 00:00 – 22:00
Additionally, the regular Sunday and public holiday driving ban remains in effect, which may impact international transit traffic.
If you would like to check country-specific truck driving bans and restrictions, you may consult external, up-to-date sources. A commonly used reference is trafficban.com, which provides an overview of driving bans by country and date.
Additional planning considerations during the holiday season
Besides the official holiday dates, some countries impose additional restrictions in the days before or after Christmas and New Year.
This may result in:
- adjusted loading and unloading times
- longer transit times
- waiting times at borders, hubs or terminals
For your business, this makes proactive planning even more important.
What do truck driving bans mean for your logistics planning?
By taking driving bans into account at an early stage, you can:
- reduce the risk of delays
- maintain delivery reliability
- limit additional costs caused by waiting time or detours
This is particularly important for international groupage transport, such as shipments between the Netherlands and Poland.
Axell Logistics’ advice for Christmas and New Year transport
We recommend that you:
- check applicable driving bans per country and vehicle category
- inform your customers in time about any potential impact on delivery schedules
Axell Logistics supports you with transport planning, international distribution and warehousing solutions, ensuring continuity throughout the holiday period.
Frequently asked questions about holiday truck driving bans
Where can I check truck driving bans by country?
You can consult external, up-to-date sources such as trafficban.com, which provides country-specific information on truck driving bans by date. This information should always be combined with professional transport planning.
Do driving bans apply to all trucks?
No. Restrictions vary by country and often depend on vehicle weight, transport type and time window.
Can driving bans affect delivery times?
Yes. Driving bans may impact routes and transit times. Early planning helps prevent delays.
Can Axell Logistics support holiday transport planning?
Yes. Axell Logistics supports you with transport planning, coordination and warehousing solutions during peak periods.
Reliable logistics, also during the holidays
Whether it concerns international distribution, groupage or warehousing, Axell Logistics ensures that your cargo is handled safely, efficiently and according to plan, also during the busy Christmas and New Year period.
Please feel free to contact us for personal advice on your holiday logistics.
