Get ready, Alsatians! This Monday, the A35 motorway will be subject to an unexpected snail operation due to the looming heavy goods vehicle tax. The idea is to slow down the traffic of trucks over 3.5 tons and to put an end to the influx of heavy goods vehicles which often use our roads to avoid higher taxes elsewhere. The road transporters are alarmed, fearing the impact of this taxation on their businesses. As the convoys set off, the debate around this tax, set to apply from 2027, intensifies. Stay alert, as what is brewing on our motorways could well change the game for transport in Alsace!
This Monday, the road landscape of Alsace could witness a spectacular transformation with thousands of trucks going into “snail” mode. Indeed, with the approach of the implementation of a heavy goods vehicle tax, transporters are expressing their dissatisfaction through an operation aimed at slowing down traffic. The emergence of this movement echoes growing concerns about the economic impact of this new regulation on international transport.
The heavy goods vehicle tax: a response to ecological challenges
The European Collectivity of Alsace (CEA) aims to establish a heavy goods vehicle tax starting from early 2027. The main objective of this measure is to regulate the number of trucks using Alsatian motorways while reducing the environmental impact of road transport. With an estimated 10,000 trucks per day on the A35, the CEA also wishes to redirect a portion of this traffic to other routes, notably to avoid the German eco-tax.
Worried truck drivers: a movement of protest
To express their disagreement with this imposition, dozens of truck drivers have decided to adopt a slowing tactic. Indeed, they have formed convoys that, instead of quickly delivering the goods to their destination, choose to slow down the pace on Alsatian roads. This act of protest is a direct response to the economic uncertainties this tax could create for their businesses.
The economic stakes of the heavy goods vehicle tax
The transporters’ fears are not unfounded. The implementation of this tax could potentially affect the cost of transport, a particularly sensitive factor in a sector where competitiveness is paramount. With the risk of seeing costs rise, some small transporters fear they will no longer be able to reconcile profitability and sustainability. This also raises the question of the viability of businesses in the face of increased regulation.
An imminent vote: what decisions for the future of heavy goods vehicles in Alsace
With the approach of a vote on the heavy goods vehicle tax project, discussions are becoming increasingly heated. On one hand, the CEA defends a regulatory model that could positively impact the environment; on the other hand, the transporters highlight the disastrous economic consequences that this could have for their activities. This debate highlights how complicated it is to reconcile ecological objectives with economic realities.
Long-term measures for responsible transport
To achieve a sustainable balance, alternatives to road transport are being suggested. The promotion of multimodal solutions, for instance, could provide a favorable way to reduce heavy goods vehicle traffic. At the same time, exploring new technologies within the sector could make transport more efficient while decreasing its environmental impact. The future of logistics in Alsace is likely to be shaped around these new realities.
A visible movement this Monday on the roads of Alsace will testify to a sector undergoing transformation. The consequences of the heavy goods vehicle tax will be felt far beyond a simple slowdown of trucks. The balance between ecology and economy will be at the heart of future discussions, and every player in the sector will have to adapt to this new reality.
- Slowdown of traffic expected on Alsatian roads
- Protests from truck drivers following the announcement of the heavy goods vehicle tax
- Objective to regulate the number of trucks on the motorways
- Tax on heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tons planned for 2027
- Economic impact on transport companies in the region
- International transport affected by the new scheme
- A35: up to 10,000 trucks per day
- Comparison with the German eco-tax to balance traffic