Czech hauliers call for the abolition of weekend truck driving bans
Czech transport companies are increasingly voicing concerns that the country’s current weekend bans on heavy goods vehicles are becoming a serious obstacle to their operations.
According to industry organisations, the existing regulations not only limit the competitiveness of domestic companies in the European market, but also generate tangible social and economic costs. In an official statement, they called for the complete abolition of these bans – at least on Fridays and Saturdays.
Experts argue that the current restrictions on truck traffic significantly reduce the competitiveness of Czech transport firms. Carriers from lower-cost Eastern European countries – not subject to similar limitations – can operate freely at times when Czech trucks are forced to remain idle. This creates an uneven playing field and leads to local hauliers being pushed out by foreign competition.
The driving ban also negatively affects the working conditions of drivers, especially those from Moravia. Many of them are forced to leave loaded vehicles parked near the borders to return home for the weekend, resulting not only in lost time but also posing a serious risk of cargo theft. This model of work discourages new entrants to the profession and worsens the existing driver shortage.
Weekend driving bans also have a negative impact on supply chains. Manufacturers and suppliers operating on a continuous basis – including industrial plants – often cannot receive deliveries on time. If they require goods from elsewhere in Europe to arrive by Monday morning, they must bear higher costs related to warehousing or scheduling deliveries earlier than usual.
The Czech transport sector is calling for the driving ban to be lifted, at least on Fridays and Saturdays. The arguments are clear: the restrictions undermine the competitiveness of the domestic transport industry, reduce the attractiveness of the driving profession, increase cargo security risks, and disrupt industrial operations.
