Is there a truck driving ban in Poland on 11 November 2026?

Yes. Poland bans HGVs and combinations over 12 tonnes gross weight on Wednesday 2026-11-11, Independence Day, from 08:00 to 22:00. A shorter ban applies on Tuesday 2026-11-10, the evening before, from 18:00 to 22:00. Perishable food, live animals and several other cargo types are exempt.

When does the Poland truck ban apply on 11 November 2026?

The ban comes from the Polish Ministry of Transport regulation on periodic restrictions, which lists 11 November (Narodowe Święto Niepodległości) among the public holidays with a nationwide 08:00-22:00 ban, as shown in its consolidated 2023 text . It applies to vehicles and combinations with a permissible total mass above 12 tonnes, buses excluded. The date is fixed, so in 2026 it lands on a Wednesday, a rare midweek ban.

The evening before is restricted too. The same regulation bans these vehicles from 18:00 to 22:00 on the day preceding 11 November, which is Tuesday 2026-11-10. In practice a truck can move from 22:00 on Tuesday until 08:00 on Wednesday, then must stop again until 22:00 on Wednesday. Our Poland public holiday calendar for 2026 lists every date that triggers a ban.

Which trucks and loads are exempt from the Poland truck ban?

A vehicle at or below 12 tonnes permissible total mass is not covered, so vans and medium trucks keep moving. For the road rules that still apply, see the Poland truck speed limits .

Heavier vehicles are exempt only in listed cases. The regulation names live animal transport, perishable foods from its annex where they make up a large part of the load, dangerous goods that require orange plates, medicines, newspapers and postal items, milk and grain collection, combined transport, and coal and other solid fuels. Empty vehicles driving to collect or returning after unloading such cargo are covered too. Police, Border Guard and fire services are also exempt. The regulation was first published as Dz.U. 2007 no. 147 item 1040 .

How should carriers plan around the 2026-11-11 ban?

Plan to be parked, or inside an exemption, by 18:00 on Tuesday 2026-11-10. A vehicle that entered Poland outside a ban period may drive up to 50 km from the border, and Polish-based vehicles returning from abroad to finish a haul are exempt. Everyone else should treat the Wednesday as a rest day and book delivery for Thursday. Confirm your cargo category before departure, because the exemptions are narrow.

The text is amended from time to time, so check the current version in Dziennik Ustaw before you leave. Our Poland truck driving ban guide covers the summer weekend restrictions, which use the same 12 tonne threshold.

Frequently asked questions

Is 11 November a truck ban day in Poland every year?

Yes. 11 November is listed as a public holiday in the regulation, so the 08:00-22:00 ban applies every year whatever weekday it falls on. The evening before carries an 18:00-22:00 restriction as well. The date fell on a Tuesday in 2025 and falls on a Wednesday in 2026.

Does the 11 November ban apply to trucks under 12 tonnes?

No. The regulation covers only vehicles and combinations with a permissible total mass above 12 tonnes, buses excluded. A van or a medium truck may drive on 2026-11-11 as normal.

Are perishable goods exempt on 11 November in Poland?

Yes, for the foods listed in the regulation annex, provided they make up a large part of the load or loading space. Live animals are exempt as a separate category. Keep the transport documents in the cab to show the cargo type.

Can a foreign truck cross Poland on 2026-11-11?

Only inside an exemption. A vehicle that entered Poland outside the ban periods may drive up to 50 km from the border, and vehicles waiting at the border to leave Poland are exempt. Otherwise plan to transit before 18:00 on 2026-11-10 or after 22:00 on 2026-11-11.

Planning loads around Polish ban days? Request a compliance-aware freight quote from Logifie.