Temporary exemptions from German toll (Lkw-Maut) in the context of relief for heavy weather damages for transports in the context of disaster relief

According to specifications from Bundesamt für Güterverkehr (BAG) in Cologne, relief transports can be carried out exempt from truck toll (“Lkw-Maut”) under the following conditions:

Condition 1:

There has been an appeal by cities, municipalities, fire departments, associations, relief organizations, etc. for food and material donations for the population in the affected regions.

Condition 2:

The food and material donations are delivered to collection and distribution points, which distribute them to the affected population with a charitable or benevolent purpose.

Important:

In the event of a disaster, the charitable purpose of the aid action is to be assumed by way of exception even if it was not organized by a charitable or benevolent organization, but purely privately, as long as aid deliveries are destined for the population in the disaster area in general (and not for a special group of persons such as relatives, acquaintances, friends). However, it is a prerequisite that the distribution of the relief supplies to the suffering population takes place via collection and distribution points, which ultimately bring the non-profit or charitable purpose of the humanitarian relief supply to fruition.

As proof, it is recommended to carry a list in the vehicle showing the loaded humanitarian relief goods (food, hygiene items, clothing, blankets, furniture, etc.) and the collection/distribution point.

Empty runs directly related to these transports (e.g. empty return trip to company headquarters) are also exempt from tolls.

Any preparatory journeys, such as collecting food and material donations, prior to the actual aid transport to the collection and distribution point in the disaster region are not exempt from toll.

Source: BGL

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