In the debate about the sluggish implementation of the truck tax, the traffic light coalition members have long been blaming each other. The reason for the dispute is the question of which mobility sector the additional income should be invested in. A compromise is now paving the way: higher fees will be due from January 2024.
The traffic light coalition has reached an agreement in a dispute over the truck toll. The coalition factions announced that the way for the Toll Amendment Act was clear. Accordingly, it was agreed that a toll reform would come on January 1, 2024. This then included the extension of the truck toll to vehicles over 3.5 tons and a CO2 toll. So far, the truck toll applies from 7.5 tons.
As agreed in the coalition agreement, the additional income is to be used for mobility across all modes of transport. This means that a planned draft law by the Ministry of Transport with an adjustment of the toll rates from 2023 is to be accepted without change. A special meeting of the Bundestag's transport committee is planned for Friday, according to coalition circles. The FDP had accused the Greens of blocking the toll adjustment. The draft by the Ministry of Transport stipulates that the truck toll should increase at the beginning of 2023. It is about an amendment to the Federal Highway Toll Act. The background is EU requirements and a new road cost report.
The Greens transport politician Matthias Gastel said on Wednesday that it was important for the Greens that the money from the truck toll not only go to the construction of new roads. There is still a lack of money for rail transport and waterways. The truck toll was introduced in Germany in 2005 on the federal motorways and has since been extended to all federal roads. It generates billions in revenue.
