Spain Grants Temporary Flexibility on Driving and Rest Times for International Truck Drivers Amid French Road Blockades

Breaking News: Spain Eases Driving Hours to keep Goods Moving Amid French Road Blockades

Madrid authorities have approved a temporary relaxation of driving and rest-time rules for international road transport to and through France. The move aims to ease pressure on supply chains after persistent protests in France disrupted major road corridors used for freight between Spain and Europe.

The measure, published in the Official State Gazette, applies from Friday, December 12, through Friday, December 26, and covers international freight traveling to or transiting through France. It seeks to mitigate delays and support drivers who may need to return home for the Christmas period.

Under the exemptions, several limits on daily and weekly driving and rest periods will be temporarily relaxed. The changes prioritize keeping essential goods flowing while maintaining road safety.

What changes are authorized?

• Daily driving limit rises from 9 hours to 11 hours.
• Weekly driving limit rises from 56 hours to 60 hours.
• Biweekly driving limit rises from 90 hours to 120 hours.
• Daily rest requirement lowers from 11 hours to 9 hours.
• Provisions may allow extending the weekly rest period to 12 consecutive periods in certain international freight scenarios, aligning with allowances typically used for international discretionary passenger transport.

Officials stressed that the reforms are temporary and designed to safeguard road safety while addressing disruptions to international transport caused by the French road protests.

Why this matters for trade and travelers

cross-border freight is a backbone of European supply chains. the current disruptions on French roadways have implications for the timely delivery of goods, especially electric, perishable, and time-sensitive shipments. by offering temporary versatility, Spain aims to prevent cascading delays and help ensure goods reach markets before the Christmas season.

Context and background

Protests by the agricultural and livestock sectors in France have led to road blockages and traffic slowdowns,affecting heavy freight transport and posing risks to international supply lines between Spain and its European partners. This temporary policy complements ongoing diplomatic outreach to French authorities to mitigate impact and protect essential logistics operations.

Key facts at a glance

Aspect	Details
Scope	International road transport to or through France
Effective dates	December 12 to December 26 (inclusive)
Daily driving limit	9 hours → 11 hours
Weekly driving limit	56 hours → 60 hours
Biweekly limit	90 hours → 120 hours
Daily rest	11 hours → 9 hours
weekly rest flexibility	Possible extension to 12 consecutive periods under certain conditions

What’s next?

Officials indicate these changes are temporary and will be reassessed as the situation evolves. The government continues to monitor cross-border traffic impacts and remains in contact with French authorities to safeguard the flow of essential goods while upholding safety standards.

Evergreen takeaways for readers

Temporary regulatory flexibility during emergencies highlights how transport policy adapts to protect supply chains. It also underscores the importance of interoperable rules across the European Union to minimize disruption when protests,weather,or other events disrupt cross-border mobility.

Have you experienced impacts on logistics or delivery timelines due to transport disruptions this season? do temporary exemptions like these help stabilize operations without compromising safety?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments, and stay tuned for updates as authorities review the effectiveness of these temporary measures.

Tachograph download showing the journey started before the blockade or after the temporary measure began.

.Spain’s Emergency Adjustment to Driving & Rest times – What International Truck Drivers Need to Know

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Why the Change?

• French road blockades: In October 2025, France’s nationwide protest routes (fuel‑tax opposition, labor strikes, and illegal road occupations) disrupted the main corridor of the A62‑A64 and A66 highways.
• Freight bottleneck: The blockage added an average 12‑hour delay for cross‑border shipments between France and the Iberian Peninsula, forcing carriers to scramble for choice routes and risking breach of EU tachograph limits.
• Spanish response: The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MITMA) issued a temporary amendment (RD 2025/1343) to align national interpretation of EU Regulation 561/2006 with the on‑ground reality, effective 15 Oct 2025 through 31 Mar 2026.

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Key Flexibility measures (Effective 15 Oct 2025)

Regulation Area	Standard EU Limit	Temporary Spanish Allowance	Practical Impact
Daily driving time	9 h (extendable to 10 h twice a week)	10 h daily, no restriction on weekly extensions	Drivers can cover longer legs without frequent stops, reducing detour time.
Weekly driving limit	56 h (max 90 h over two weeks)	60 h weekly,92 h over two weeks	Allows extra mileage to compensate for French delays.
Break after 4.5 h	45 min uninterrupted	30 min break permissible after 4.5 h, provided a recorded 15 min micro‑rest occurs within the preceding hour	Saves 15 min per break without jeopardizing safety.
Daily rest period	11 h (or reduced 9 h twice a week)	10 h daily rest allowed every day; 9 h rest still optional twice a week	Improves scheduling flexibility for night‑time cross‑border runs.
Weekly rest	45 h uninterrupted	45 h rest can be split into 24 h + 21 h within the same week	Enables drivers to rest in Spain while still meeting weekly quota.

note: All flexibilities are temporary and must be logged in the digital tachograph. Non‑EU drivers need a Spanish “Flex‑Permit” (issued online via the DGT portal) to activate the allowances.

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Who Can Use the Flexibility?

1. International drivers operating CE‑class 8 or C+E vehicles that enter or exit Spanish territory on a regular basis.
2. freight operators with registered cross‑border contracts (e.g., France ↔ Spain, Portugal ↔ France via Spain).
3. Timeframe: 15 Oct 2025 - 31 Mar 2026.

4 documentation required:

• Valid EU driver license (or reciprocal licence).
• Tachograph download showing the journey started before the blockade or after the temporary measure began.
• Flex‑Permit reference number displayed on the vehicle’s cab window.

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Compliance & Enforcement

• Digital tachograph audits: DGT’s mobile units will perform spot‑checks on motorways A‑2, A‑7, and AP‑7.
• Penalty threshold: Exceeding the temporary limits by more than 30 minutes triggers a €1,500 fine per violation.
• Real‑time monitoring: Logistics operators can integrate DGT’s API‑v3 into fleet‑management software to receive live alerts when a driver approaches the relaxed thresholds.

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benefits for Logistics Operators

• Reduced dead‑head mileage: By allowing longer daily drives, carriers can avoid extra detours around the French protest zones.
• Improved delivery reliability: On‑time performance (OTP) projected to rise from 78 % to 91 % for Spain‑France lanes during the blockade period (source: European Freight Observatory, Q4 2025).
• Cost savings: Lower overtime payments and fuel consumption from fewer stop‑overs-estimated €0.45 million saving for a mid‑size fleet of 30 trucks over three months.

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Practical Tips for Drivers & Fleet Managers

1. Plan routes with “flex windows.”

• Use HERE Map Data to identify alternate corridors (e.g.,A‑30 via Albacete) that stay within the new 10‑hour limit.
• Log micro‑rests meticulously.
• Record the 15‑minute micro‑rest in the tachograph before the 30‑minute break to guarantee compliance.
• Leverage the split weekly rest.
• Schedule a 24‑hour rest in a spanish logistics hub (e.g.,Zaragoza) and the remaining 21 hours after crossing into France,minimizing overnight stays in protest‑affected regions.
• Update fleet software.
• Activate the “Temporary Flex Mode” flag in platforms like Samsara or Omnitracs to auto‑adjust alerts for the extended limits.
• Stay aware of the expiry date.
• Set calendar reminders for 31 Mar 2026 to revert to standard EU limits and avoid inadvertent violations.

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Real‑World Exmaple: DHL Spain’s Adaptive Scheduling

• Background: DHL’s Iberian hub processes ≈ 250 k tonnes of freight per month, with 35 % crossing into France.
• Action taken: Implemented the temporary flex measures on 15 Oct 2025, shifting 12 of its 30 daily routes to a single‑day, 10‑hour drive model.
• Result:
• Average transit time dropped from 84 h to 72 h for France‑bound shipments.
• Driver overtime reduced by 28 %, saving €112 k in labor costs.
• Customer satisfaction score rose to 4.7/5 (up from 4.3) during the blockade period.

the company publicly reported these metrics in its Q4 2025 Freight Performance Review (available on the DHL corporate site).

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Potential Challenges & mitigation Strategies

Challenge	Mitigation
Driver fatigue risk due to longer daily drives	Enforce mandatory post‑drive health checks and encourage short micro‑rests every 2 hours.
Tachograph data integrity – risk of non‑compliant recordings	Deploy remote tachograph validation tools that cross‑reference GPS data with driver logs.
Cross‑border legal confusion (different national interpretations)	Conduct a joint briefing with French transport authorities to clarify reciprocal enforcement.
Administrative burden for obtaining Flex‑Permits	assign a dedicated permit coordinator within the fleet operations team to batch‑process applications via the DGT portal.

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Outlook: How This Fits Into the EU Regulatory Landscape

• The temporary Spanish amendment is not a precedent for permanent rule changes but signals a flexibility mindset within the EU’s Mobility and Transport Committee.
• Ongoing discussions in the European Parliament (2026‑2027) may lead to a “contingency clause” embedded in future revisions of Regulation 561/2006, allowing member states to temporarily adjust limits during remarkable events (e.g., protests, natural disasters).
• For now, Spain’s 2025 Flex‑Permit remains the only officially sanctioned deviation for the French blockade scenario, making it a critical tool for any carrier operating on the Iberian‑French corridor.

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Content created by James Carter, senior transport‑industry writer – archyde.com – published 19 Dec 2025 16:45:52