Overview
- On Friday several states — Rheinland‑Pfalz, Saarland, Nordrhein‑Westfalen and Niedersachsen — introduced time‑limited exemptions that allow trucks over 7.5 tonnes to run on Sundays and holidays for replacement transports tied to the Rhine’s low water, with NRW and Niedersachsen set initially to 31 August and Rheinland‑Pfalz and Saarland to 30 September.
- The permits apply only to transports directly or indirectly related to the Niedrigwasser, include necessary empty runs, and explicitly exclude Großraum and Schwertransporte (oversize/abnormal loads).
- DB Cargo has pledged to organise extra rail capacity and Deutsche Bahn’s infrastructure unit has appointed a special 'Niedrigwasser' coordinator to steer diverted north‑south freight flows.
- Reporters saw the first Sunday trucks on NRW highways after the change, and industry groups praised the step as a rapid fix to stabilise deliveries while the ADAC warned of higher congestion risk on roads.
- Unions (ver.di) and environmental group BUND strongly criticised the measure for adding pressure on drivers and increasing emissions, and policymakers and business leaders say the episode underscores the need for long‑term investment in low‑water vessels, rail capacity and river management.