# Low Water Levels: States Want to Extend Truck Exemptions Until December

**Category:** Operational Alerts  |  **Source:** Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr  |  **Published:** 2026-10-29  |  **Updated:** 2026-11-04

**Tags:** Rhein, Niedrigwasser, Lkw-Fahrverbot, Deutschland, Binnenschifffahrt, Disposition, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, LKW Transport, Schienentransport

> Due to low water levels, truck exceptions are to remain in effect longer. For specific trips, the published regulations of the respective federal states apply.

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Due to low water levels, Germany's transport ministers want to extend exceptions to the Sunday and public holiday driving ban for trucks until December 20. They reached agreement on this at the conference in Hohenschwangau. Transports that need to switch to road due to insufficient barge capacity should thus be easier to organize.

For dispatchers, the important point is in the fine print. A political agreement does not replace the specific regulations of the respective federal state. For example, the verified Bavarian general order already ended on October 25. It also only permitted transports with demonstrable connection to the consequences of low water levels. This was not a general exemption for every Sunday shipment.

Those planning substitute transports should therefore check the origin, destination, and all federal states transited. The shipment must also include comprehensible documentation explaining why the transport falls under the respective exemption. Driver rest and break times must be planned separately.

For shippers in the Rhine corridor, the extension is a potential relief measure. However, it neither automatically provides an available truck nor additional unloading time at the recipient's facility. Before confirming, vehicle availability, personnel, and goods receiving capacity must also be confirmed. Otherwise, the alternative solution quickly becomes the next waiting period.

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For substitute trips, document the low water reference and verify the valid permit for each partial route. Agree on additional costs and weekend acceptance in advance. In short: First check the appropriate exception, then confirm the Sunday truck.

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The Transport Ministers' Conference took place on 21 and 22 October.
The extension target date is 20 December 2026.
The background involves restricted transport operations on inland waterways.
The Bavarian ordinance under review came into force on 11 October.
This ordinance expired on 25 October.
It required a demonstrable connection to low water levels.

## Related Entities

### Countries

- [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de)
- [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch)

### Seaports

- [Rotterdam (NL RTM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/rotterdam-port-nl-rtm)
- [Antwerpen (BE ANR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/antwerpen-port-be-anr)

### Glossary

- [Goods receipt](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods-receipt)
- [Inland Waterway Transport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inland-waterway-transport)
- [Unload Time](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/unload-time)
- [Sunday driving ban (Sonntagsfahrverbot)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sunday-driving-ban-sonntagsfahrverbot)
- [Low Water](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/low-water)

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