Truck operators are registering slowly: foreign hauliers will create tens of kilometres long queues in December

Prague, 12 November 2019 – Today CzechToll presented the results of a traffic model to the public that quantified the anticipated complications at the Czech borders at the time of launching the new toll system. Considering a minimum interest by small foreign hauliers to secure the new on-board units in advance, the model envisages a scenario of major traffic complications: at the entry to the Czech Republic the queues can stretch for tens of kilometres, the waiting time for picking up the on-board unit can then be up to tens of hours. Obviously, queues can also endanger the flow of passenger cars.

By 10 November 2019, hauliers registered 196 thousand vehicles in the new toll system, 43% of the total expected number. Seven weeks of running registrations were enough for large hauliers to register all of 171,000 vehicles. In the same period, small hauliers registered only 25,000 vehicles (8% of the planned number).

“The lack of activity of small hauliers may cause major traffic complications on the Czech border not only for freight transport but also for drivers of passenger vehicles. Only hauliers who have already secured the on-board unit or will do so in the next two weeks will avoid long waiting in queues at the state border, “ said Matej Okáli, CzechToll CEO.

The traffic model, based on the real passage of lorries through individual border crossings, indicates the number of drivers who will have to obtain an on-board unit at the first point of sale when entering the Czech Republic.

There will likely be a critical situation at the Lanžhot border crossing, where queues can reach up to 44 kilometres, in Bohumín (40 km), in Český Těšín (22 km). Ten-kilometre queues can be expected in Mosty u Jablunkova, Náchod and Krásný Les. Sudden traffic complications are not ruled out even at inland points of sale and at other border crossing.

“Small hauliers are aware of the obligation to acquire a new on-board unit, but for various reasons they are not sufficiently using the 10-week long period to meet it. We would like to warn not only these hauliers but also drivers of passenger cars that despite all efforts to force hauliers to register, significant traffic complications can be expected. It is advisable to consider travelling across the borders at the beginning of December 2019, ” added Matej Okáli.

CzechToll informed about the results of the traffic model the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic and proposed measures – these are now being discussed with the contracting authority, the Customs Administration and the Czech Police. The measures taken will most likely be presented in the week of 18 November 2019 along with an updated traffic model and the number of vehicles registered.

Hauliers can register online at www.mytocz.eu and receive their on-board unit by post. Registration is also available through fuel card issuers, at more than 200 points of sale and at 15 selected branches of the Chamber of Commerce.

Complete information about the new toll system can be found at www.mytocz.eu   or on the non-stop customer service line +420 243 243 243.