Overview
Armistice Day falls on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. On this date, a truck driving ban applies in France and Poland. Poland observes the same date as Independence Day (Narodowe Święto Niepodległości). France uses the local name Armistice 1918.
The bans apply to HGV/TIR goods vehicles above each country's weight threshold. Passenger cars, coaches and motorcycles are exempt. Empty return trips are exempt in Poland, but they are not listed as an exemption in France.
This is a mid-week ban, so it can interrupt delivery schedules that normally run without a stop on a Wednesday. It matters especially for transit drivers. Poland is a major transit country for freight between Ukraine and the EU, and its ban covers all public roads. In France, the ban covers all roads nationwide, and it starts on the evening before the holiday.
Ban Windows on 2026-11-11
| Country | Local name | Time | Applies to | Roads | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Armistice 1918 | 00:00–22:00 | Goods vehicles >7.5t | All roads nationwide | €135–€750 |
| Poland | Narodowe Święto Niepodległości | 08:00–22:00 | Goods vehicles >12t | All public roads | PLN 500–10,000 |
The weight thresholds differ, and this directly affects fleet planning. A truck above 7.5t but not above 12t is banned in France, but the ban in Poland does not apply to it. Trucks above 12t are banned in both countries. Check the weight threshold for each country on the route, because a vehicle that may legally drive in one country may have to stop in the next.
Pre-holiday day (Tuesday 2026-11-10)
France applies a holiday-eve restriction on Tuesday, 10 November, from 22:00 to 24:00. This connects directly to the holiday window, so goods vehicles above 7.5t face a continuous stop from 22:00 on 10 November to 22:00 on 11 November. Poland's pre-holiday restriction applies on Saturdays only, so it does not apply on this Tuesday.
Country-by-country rules & penalties
France
Weight: above 7.5t. Roads: all roads nationwide. Recurring: Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00. Holiday rule: holiday eves 22:00–24:00, then 00:00–22:00 on the holiday. Extended bans also apply on Grands Départs dates. Exemptions: perishables, livestock, fuel and humanitarian transport. Penalties: €135–€750.
Poland
Weight: above 12t, so lighter trucks are not banned. Roads: all public roads. Recurring: Sundays and holidays 08:00–22:00, and pre-holiday Saturdays 18:00–22:00. The additional summer restrictions on Fridays and Saturdays apply from June to September only, so they do not affect this date. Exemptions: perishables, live animals, combined transport, fuel, mail, humanitarian transport and empty return. Penalties: PLN 500–10,000.
Plan Your Route
Plan the last legal departure for each country. The general rule is to depart before 00:00 on 11 November, but France requires an earlier stop. Trucks above 7.5t must finish driving in France by 22:00 on 10 November. In Poland, trucks above 12t may drive until 08:00 on 11 November. Use the EU Tachograph Calculator to check that your driving time and rest period fit these limits.
Reserve overnight parking early. Use TEN-T or secured rest areas for the night of 10–11 November and for the stop on 11 November. The ban in both countries ends at 22:00, so also plan the driving time available when the ban ends.
Consider countries where this holiday ban does not apply. The 11 November ban does not apply in neighboring countries, but their own rules remain in force. Germany and Austria have regular bans on Sundays and holidays from 00:00 to 22:00 for trucks above 7.5t. Slovakia has the same regular hours, with a threshold above 7.5t, or above 3.5t with a trailer. The Czech Republic has regular bans on Sundays and holidays from 13:00 to 22:00. Italy has regular bans on Sundays and holidays, from 09:00 to 22:00 in winter.
Switzerland has the strictest threshold, at above 3.5t. Its night ban from 22:00 to 05:00 applies daily, so it also applies on this Wednesday. A diversion does not remove the ban for a vehicle that must load, unload or drive inside France or Poland during the ban window. Use the Trip Cost Calculator to compare the fuel and toll cost of a longer route with the cost of waiting. For sections in Germany, the German LKW-Maut Calculator shows the motorway toll.
Allow border buffer time. A wait at a border crossing can move your arrival into a ban window. On routes into France, plan to cross well before 22:00 on 10 November. On routes into Poland, plan to cross well before 08:00 on 11 November.
Useful Tools for Truck Drivers
- Interactive Traffic Bans Calendar
- Live Traffic Incidents Map
- Truck Parkings Map (19,000+)
- Speed Cameras (48,000+)
- European Vignettes & Tolls
- European Holidays Calendar
- German LKW-Maut Calculator — calculate motorway toll costs for HGV trucks
- EU Tachograph Calculator — verify driving time and mandatory break compliance
- Trip Cost Calculator — estimate fuel, toll and total trip expenses
Source: nakordoni.eu — Truck Traffic Bans Calendar | Updated: 05.11.2026