16/04/2026
May in European freight is not just a long weekend - it's a month of real operational constraints.
From 30 April through 3 May, and continuing across every weekend in May, heavy goods vehicles above 12 t face driving bans across Europe. Add overlapping public holidays in multiple EU member states, and the result is a significantly reduced window for road transport operations.
📅 Poland — active restrictions:
• 30 April: 18:00 – 22:00
• 1 May: 08:00 – 22:00
• 2 May: 18:00 – 22:00
• 3 May: 08:00 – 22:00
Key corridors:
🇩🇪 Germany — public holidays + every Sunday: 00:00 – 22:00
🇫🇷 France — 1 May + recurring weekend restrictions
🇦🇹 Austria — public holidays + weekend and night-time bans
🇨🇿 Czech Republic — public holidays + Sundays: 13:00 – 22:00
🇮🇹 Italy — every Sunday: 09:00 – 22:00
🇨🇭 Switzerland — public holidays + overnight driving bans
What this means in practice:
🔸 Fewer available transport windows
🔸 Greater need for precise, advance scheduling
🔸 Higher exposure to delays without proactive planning
May is not the time to improvise. It is the time to manage.
At XL LOGISTICS, we plan ahead, anticipate restrictions, and optimise routes to ensure your shipments are delivered on schedule even during the most operationally demanding periods of the year.
Reach out to our team to coordinate your May transport needs before the restrictions take effect.
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