Hungary relaxes 23 Oct truck ban; Austrian hauliers gain extra overnight window on key east-west corridor

The Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport has shortened the national-holiday driving ban for heavy goods vehicles ( > 7.5 t) on 23 October 2025. Restrictions will now apply only from 06:00 to 22:00, lifting the usual night-time blackout. The measure, notified on 21 October and circulated to Austrian logistics associations on 23 October, gives hauliers an additional eight-hour overnight slot to transit between the Austrian border at Nickelsdorf and destinations further east.

The change is significant for Austrian carriers serving Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, as 23 October marks a peak in seasonal export flows following Austria’s National Day long weekend. By allowing post-22:00 departures from Austrian loading bays, operators can reach Hungarian rest areas before weekly EU drivers-hours limits reset.

Forwarders advise clients to re-issue CMR notes reflecting the revised timetable and to pre-book secure parking, as competition for late-night slots is expected. Companies using time-critical GDP-pharma or high-value automotive loads should still factor in potential bottlenecks at the Hegyeshalom border crossing, where Hungarian police maintain anti-smuggling spot checks.

The ministry framed the relaxation as a test case; data on traffic density and safety will inform the 2026 public-holiday calendar. If successful, Austria’s own interior ministry may face pressure from trade bodies to mirror the flexibility on domestic holiday bans.