Transport: Brenner truck ban on 8 August
A truck ban in both directions is scheduled on the Brenner corridor for 8 August, which may limit weekend capacity between Austria, Italy and Germany. At the same time, carriers must distinguish tax changes in the Netherlands and Ireland from current road toll and fuel costs.
Prepared by the CargoNice editorial team with AI support, based on the sources listed and CargoNice's own market data. Machine translation of the Polish original. Editorial policy · Read the Polish original
Today's market in figures (CargoNice data)
The Orlen diesel price stood at 6.41 PLN/l according to the reading from 5 August 2026, compared with 6.62 PLN/l previously; the change was -0.21 PLN/l. The average diesel price in the European Union stood at 2011.3300 EUR/1000L on 27 July 2026, while in Germany it was 2186.0000 EUR/1000L on the same day. The spot rate on the Germany–Poland route reached 1.1200 EUR/km on 5 August 2026, while the rate in the Poland–Germany direction was 1.6500 EUR/km.
The 0.21 PLN/l drop in the Orlen price improves the current reference point for fuel costs, but higher diesel price levels in Germany and across the EU remain important when pricing international haulage. The disparity between rates in the two directions on the Germany–Poland route confirms that calculations should be made separately for each direction.
Austria: restriction on truck traffic on the Brenner
The ASFINAG calendar for the Lueg Bridge on Austria's A13 provides for two-lane traffic management and a truck ban on Saturday, 8 August 2026. The restriction is to apply both southbound, via the Brenner to Italy, and northbound, via Kufstein to Germany.
The Lueg Bridge forms part of the Brenner road corridor. For transport orders passing through Austria, this means separating the standard Saturday plan from a plan that takes the crossing restriction into account. The calendar notes that traffic management may change, while regular weekend, public holiday and night-time restrictions also apply independently of it.
The dispatcher should confirm the final traffic management status before releasing the load. This is particularly important for deliveries with a loading or unloading date immediately after the weekend. Source: ASFINAG
Netherlands: lower tax, but road toll remains a separate cost
From 1 July 2026, the motor vehicle tax (mrb) for trucks up to 12 tonnes was abolished in the Netherlands. For heavier vehicles, mrb was significantly reduced. Since the tax is charged in three-month periods, the new rules will apply to periods starting on 5 August 2026.
However, the change does not abolish the distance-based road toll. The toll rate depends on the vehicle's weight, Euro class and CO2 emissions class. This means that an mrb reduction or abolition must be treated separately from the cost of the distance-based charge.
When analysing surcharges applied by carriers registered in the Netherlands, it is worth separating these two elements. The mere fact that a road toll is charged does not determine whether the vehicle's total fiscal cost has remained unchanged with the start of the new tax period. Source: Nederlandse vrachtwagenheffing
Ireland: effective excise duty increase confirmed for September
Ireland's diesel tax refund mechanism for eligible carriers remains in force until the end of August. The effective excise duty rate for eligible commercial users is 0.25185 EUR/l through 31 August 2026.
From 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026, the effective rate will rise to 0.31689 EUR/l. The difference is 0.06504 EUR/l. The measure is limited to entities meeting the conditions of the diesel tax refund scheme, so it should not be assumed to apply to every carrier operating in Ireland.
When preparing quotations for haulage performed after the change of month, August assumptions should be separated from September assumptions. The European Commission document links the temporary relief to high fuel prices and allows the reduced rate to remain in place until the end of September. Source: European Commission / EUR-Lex
In brief
- Austria, Italy and Germany: a two-lane traffic arrangement and a truck ban in both directions are planned on the Brenner for 8 August. Source: ASFINAG
- Netherlands: the mrb tax treatment changes for tax periods starting on 5 August, but the distance-based road toll continues to be charged separately. Source: Nederlandse vrachtwagenheffing
- Ireland: eligible carriers should switch to the September effective excise duty rate from 1 September. Source: European Commission / EUR-Lex