July 14 in France – truck driving ban. What about refrigerated and frozen transport?

France\'s National Day on 14 July is not only about fireworks in Paris and military parades – for hauliers, it is also one of the days when a driving ban applies to trucks with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes.

In brief:
❌ A truck driving ban is in force in France on 14 July,
❌ But refrigerated and frozen goods may still be transported,
❌ Carry the necessary documents – the French authorities like everything to be properly documented.

The ban usually applies from the evening of the previous day (13 July) until late evening on the public holiday (14 July). This means that many drivers must plan their stopovers or journeys well in advance.

13 July - France 22:00 - 00:00
14 July - France 00:00 - 22:00

❗ Please note: the ban does not apply to all vehicles.

❌ What about frozen and perishable goods?

French regulations provide a list of exemptions, allowing certain vehicles to continue operating despite the general ban. One of the most common exemptions covers:

✅ the transport of chilled, frozen and deep-frozen goods

If you are transporting food or other products requiring controlled temperatures, you may continue your journey even while the ban is in force. This includes, among others:

– frozen food products,
– chilled dairy, meat and fish products,
– cargo requiring continuous refrigeration.

List of exemptions from driving bans

❗ Important: Transport documents should clearly indicate the type of goods being carried. During an inspection, you may be required to prove that the cargo qualifies for the exemption.

On www.trafficban.com, in the section dedicated to each country, you will find detailed information on truck traffic restrictions, including lists of exemptions and exceptions to driving bans.