Freight forwarders moving goods between Austria and Italy face fresh restrictions this week as the Brenner motorway operator A22 introduced a night-time ban on heavy-goods vehicles. From 12 to 16 October, trucks over 3.5 tonnes are prohibited from using the northbound carriageway between Sterzing and the border crossing from 22:00 to 05:00 due to resurfacing works on the Austrian side of the pass. In addition, a lane swap affecting both directions near Brixen came into force at 00:54 on 12 October and will last until 20 October. Combined with existing Tyrolean sectoral driving bans and Germany’s temporary border controls, the latest measure is expected to add up to 90 minutes to just-in-time supply chains serving southern Germany and Upper Austria. Logistics providers are advising clients to reroute via the Tauern or Reschen corridors or to shift time-sensitive cargo to the Wörgl–Trento rolling-highway service. Shippers should also review cabotage plans: because the closure occurs on Italian territory but is triggered by Austrian works, exemptions for “originating in Tyrol” loads do not apply. Mobility managers with expatriate assignments in the alpine region should alert employees driving company vans, as local police have announced intensified checkpoints. Fines for violation start at €130 and include mandatory diversion at the next exit. Normal two-lane traffic is scheduled to resume before the autumn school holidays.
