Heavy goods vehicle tax in France: truckers grumble in Alsace, what is it about ?

Road hauliers expressed their anger this Monday morning. In their sights the weight tax heavy goods desired by the European Community of Alsace.

Operation go-slow this Monday, October 7 in the morning in Alsace. To express their concern, dozens of truckers slowed down on the Alsatian highways. Two convoys, each made up of around fifty heavy goods vehicles, set off at around 9 a.m. from Mulhouse and Strasbourg, with the aim of reaching Colmar, relays France 3. “No, a new tax”, could be read on some banners, notes La Croix. 

The reason for their anger ? The future heavy goods vehicle tax (R-pass) desired by the European Community of Alsace (CEA) for 2027. The latter must be voted on next October 21, with the key : a new motorway toll. In concrete terms, the CEA wants to tax heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes that cross the region from north to south, with the aim of "rebalancing heavy goods vehicle transit traffic".

Because the region estimates that many trucks would make the detour via Alsace in order to avoid the higher prices charged on German motorways since the end of 2023 and the increase in the toll across the Rhine. In a few figures, mentioned by Le Parisien and France 3, the number of heavy goods vehicles passing through Alsace is said to have increased by 18% in the region since Germany revised its prices the increase, with even up to 30% more heavy goods vehicles last August and September.

Towards new demonstrations ?

But on the side of the detractors of this new tax, we point out its harmful effects for local businesses and the economy. For them, a new tax means reduced margins, less competitive French companies, consequences for employment and even bankruptcies. What's more, they argue that this tax, lower than across the Rhine – 15 cents per km in France compared to 34 across the Rhine – should in no way motivate foreign trucks to return to Germany.

Monday at midday, despite the mobilization of transporters in the morning, the postponement of the vote, scheduled for 14 days, was refused. Enough to arouse the ire of demonstrators who have already promised at least one new day of action.