International Road Transport Operations in Austria
Operational Activities
Cabotage
UK hauliers may carry goods to, through or from the country, goods can also be carried from Austria to a third country and vice versa if
permitted by the terms of any agreement between the three countries. Cabotage is permitted, but a correctly completed control sheet
must be carried on the vehicle. Control sheets are issued by Federal Ministry of Transport, Division II/ST6, Stubenring 1, A-1010
Vienna. Fax no: +43 1 711 6265-58 52. The fee for control sheets is currently €15.30 and must be applied for 14 days in advance.
Dangerous Goods
ADR agreement is in place and will apply. It should be noted that where vehicles are carrying dangerous goods and comply with all ADR
requirements, there are specific additional requirements for the vehicle which may include additional lighting/beacons and/or escort vehicles
where the vehicle movement has to travel via certain tunnels.
It should also be noted that there are further driving restrictions on vehicles carrying dangerous goods at certain times of the year and
in general at certain times of the day in specific areas of Austria unless acess for unloading is required.
Abnormal Loads
Vehicles exceeding the maximum dimensions (see vehicle requirements below) will require special authorisation.
Customs
TIR & ATA Carnets are accepted (conditions of use apply). CMR notes are required. All goods in free circulation do not require customs
documents unless they are excise goods.
Movement Restrictions
There are driving restrictions on public holidays and at weekends. The restrictions are Nationwide if the total weight of the vehicle
and/or trailer exceeds 3.5 tonnes. The exceptions to this include combined transport operations within 65 kms of a transloading station.
Prohibitions are Saturday from 15.00 to 24.00 and Sundays and Public Holidays from 00.00 to 22.00.
Movement Exceptions include those vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes that are transporting milk and vehicles with an authorised total weight of more than 7.5 tonnes carrying a cargo of:-
- meat or livestock for slaughter (but not the transport of heavy livestock on motorways)
- perishable foodstuffs including fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, fresh milk and fresh dairy products, fresh meat and fresh meat products, fresh fish and fresh fish products, live fish, eggs, fresh mushrooms, fresh bakery products and fresh cakes and pastry, fresh herbs as potted plants or cut and ready-to-eat food preparations, as well as empty transports linked to the transports of the above mentioned goods or return journeys for carriage of transport facilities and wrapping of the above mentioned goods (a CMR needs to be carried onboard and presented in case of inspection) - (this does not include deep frozen goods)
The status of the load (amount) must be clearly documented at the start and during the transport movement. The exception is only valid if ONLY perishable goods (see above) are transported.
| Public Holidays | |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2012 |
|
|
Night Time Restrictions
General ban on night driving with a prohibition between 22.00 and 05.00 for heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes gvw. The exceptions to this
are low-noise vehicles that conform and are showing a green 'L' plate, which are limited to a maximum speed of 60 km/h. On
certain authorised road sections the speed may be increased to 80 km/h.
The Low Noise Vehicle plate (Lärmarm - see image) is specific to Austria although Germany has its own variation. Vehicles that qualify
to the Low Noise regulation have to be re-registered every two years.
Overtaking Bans
In keeping with other EU member states, there are overtaking bans for all goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes gvw on
specific sections of designated motorways which are clearly signposted as follows:-
- A1 towards Salzburg and A1 towards Vienna
- A2 towards Italy and A2 towards Vienna
- A10 in both directions
- A21 Vienna ringroad
- A25 Linz Motorway
Road, Tunnel & Bridge Tolls
In Austria, motorway and expressway tolls for vehicles whose maximum admissible weight exceeds 3.5 tonnes are collected electronically,
this means there is no need for the driver to stop or change lanes for the toll to be collected. Each vehicle has to be equipped with a
cigarette box sized device called a 'Go Box'.
There are two methods of payment - 'Pre-Pay' and 'Post-Pay'.
Pre-Pay allows the driver to load toll credit on his 'Go Box'. Post-Pay system requires
no credit to be loaded on the 'Go Box'. The vehicles owner periodically receives an invoice for the kilometers covered.
Whether using the 'pre-pay' or 'post-pay' modes of payment, both can be done via a debit or credit card, which can also be paid online. The price paid depends on the number of axles and the engine emissions.
Bridge and Tunnel Tolls
There are many tunnels/bridges throughout Austria, listed below is a small selection. Virtually all tunnels/bridges on the
motorway network within the country are integrated within the countries toll system, exceptions to this will be those tunnels/bridges which
form the connecting route from Austria to a neighbouring country on its border such as Italy or Slovenia. In these cases there is generally
a seperate toll charge.
| Tunnels | Road Network | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Arlberg Tunnel | S16 Autobahn | Links Austrian states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg |
| Bosruck Tunnel | A9 Autobahn | Links Spital am Phyrn (Upper Austria) with Liezen (Styria) |
| Gleinalm Tunnel | A9 Autobahn | North of Graz |
| Katschberg and Tauern Tunnels | A10 Autobahn | North/South transit route between Germany, Italy and Slovenia |
| Plabutsch Tunnel | A9 Autobahn | Runs under the outskirts of Graz |
| Karawanken Tunnel | A11 Autobahn | Links A11 (Austria) to A2 (Slovenia) |
| Bridges | Road Network | Additional Information |
| Europabrücke | A13 Autobahn | Links A13 Autobahn (Austria) to A22 (Italy) - Brenner Pass |
| Lavant Viaduct | A2 Autobahn | Crosses Lavant River in Carinthia, Austria |
Vehicle Requirements
Documentation
Green Card required, plus original vehicle registration docs including MOT Cert. Civil Liability Insurance is required. A GB plate must be
fitted to rear of vehicle/trailer.
| Maximum Weights & Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height | 4 metres |
| Width | 2.5 metres (Fridges 2.6 metres) |
| Length |
Artic 16.5 metres
Road Train 18.35 metres |
| Weight |
Artic 38 tonnes
Road Train 38 tonnes There are also various maximum permitted weights on vehicles, trailers and road trains which are applicable according to the number of axles the vehicle and/or trailer have fitted. |
Safety Equipment
It is compulsory to carry snow chains on vehicles over 3.5 tonnes between 15 November and 15 March. It is also compulsory that all vehicles
over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with winter tyres between the same dates. Both Chains and Winter Tyres have compliance requirements.
Other compulsory safety equipment requirements are:-
- Warning Triangle, which in the event of breakdown, should be placed 50 metres behind the vehicle
- Seat belts must be worn at all times
- Reflective jackets must be worn (day or night) if driver leaves the cab in the event of accident or breakdown
- Dipped headlights on at all times
- First Aidd Kit
- Two wheel chocks if vehicle over 3.5 tonnes
- Minimum tyre tread depth is 2mm
Driver Requirements
Legal Documents
Full passport required but no visa required. UK or International Driving Licence. Letter from employer giving driver permission to drive
vehicle - Attestation letter and form.
Speed Limits
| Vehicles Concerned | Built-Up Areas (kms) |
All purpose Roads Outside
Built-Up Areas (kms) |
Four lane Roads/Dual
Carraigeways (Kms) |
Motorways (Kms) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid Trucks - gvw > 3.5 tonnes | 50 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| Articulated Vehicle | 50 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| Road Trains | 50 | 60 | 60 | 80 |
| Long Loads | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
| Heavy Livestock | 50 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
Country Contact Info
British Embassy
Jauresgasse 12, 1030 Vienna Tel: +43 (1) 716130 Website: www.ukinaustria.fco.gov.uk
Transport Organisation
Austrian Own Account and Hauliers Association, Wiedner Hauptstr 68, A-1040 Wien Tel: +43 (01) 961 63 63 Website: www.aisoe.at
