In order to protect vacation travel, there is a ban on truck driving in accordance with the Holiday Travel Ordinance in addition to the ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays. This applies to the commercial or paid transportation of goods by trucks with a total permissible mass of more than 7.5 tons and to trucks with trailers, as well as the associated empty runs. The driving ban applies on all Saturdays from July 1 to August 31 of each year, inclusive, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., on all highways and state roads specified in the Holiday Travel Ordinance.
During this time, transportation must use alternate routes on the subordinate network of federal, state and county roads. Only if these alternative routes cannot be used (e.g. due to a ban on truck driving or a ban on hazardous goods transports) or if it is mandatory (e.g. to supply highway gas stations) to use the highway, an exception may be granted.
However, such exemptions may only be granted if there is a public interest in carrying out the journey during the period of prohibition (e.g. elimination of emergency situations, supplying the population) or if refusal of the permit would represent an undue hardship for the applicant and proof is provided that transport is not possible either by other means of transport or outside the period of prohibition. Business or competitive reasons alone cannot justify exceptions.
Corresponding evidence must be provided.