Transit traffic in Tyrol: With clean trucks, the load remains high!

Transit traffic in Tyrol: With clean trucks, the load remains high!

A current survey of 5,000 truck drivers in Tyrol shows that transit traffic between north and south is still very important. According to the analysis carried out at the Kundl and Radfeld checkpoints on the Inntal motorway in autumn 2024, 57 percent of heavy vehicles make transit trips. This share is identical to the results from 2021. Tyrol therefore remains an important corridor for the transport of goods between Germany and Italy.

The study also showed that around a quarter of truck journeys are transports that start or end in Tyrol. Only 12 percent of trips travel exclusively within Austria. This underlines Tyrol's role within the European transport network. Despite strict regulations and a high level of inspections, which are responsible for one of the most modern truck fleets in Europe, the number of truck journeys has not decreased.

Sustainability and technical standards

However, the environmental data is promising: 99.8 percent of the trucks meet the strict Euroclass 6, the highest emissions standard. The average age of the trucks is just 3.3 years. The introduction of driving bans for older vehicles makes a decisive contribution to this positive development. Despite the high proportion of modern vehicles, traffic congestion in Tyrol remains a daily challenge.

The average load per truck is 13.2 tons, with the main goods transported being food and beverages (20%), groupage (8%) and chemical products and plastic goods (7%). A positive aspect is that only 11 percent of trucks are empty and for transit trips this ratio is even less than 3 percent. This indicates that the efficiency in freight transportation is relatively high.

Traffic congestion at night

It is particularly noticeable during the night hours, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., that trucks account for around 7 percent of the total traffic on Tyrol's motorways. Perishable goods dominate night trips, accounting for 38 percent of the loads transported, followed by parcels at 13 percent. A night driving ban could reduce the number of journeys, but due to exceptions for perishable goods, traffic volume remains high even at night.

The challenges facing Tyrol remain significant. Without Europe-wide solutions to shift freight transport to rail, the high traffic load on the roads will continue. A solution to these ongoing pressures is urgently needed to improve the quality of life for residents and minimize the environmental footprint of transit. In addition, the development of sustainable transport concepts is an important step into the future.

In summary, it can be said that Tyrol continues to be a central hub in the European transport network. Balancing efficiency, modernity and environmental protection is a constant challenge that requires close cooperation between the relevant authorities and the transport sector. Further details on the topic can be found at Dolomite town and tirol.orf.at.