The new transit and traffic restrictions imposed by Hungary starting January 1, 2026 are severely disrupting international road freight transport, forcing Romanian carriers to detour through the Budapest area to reach Croatia, using exclusively the routes designated by the Hungarian authorities, the National Union of Romanian Hauliers (UNTRR) warns.
UNTRR said the rules - including unclear tonnage and time restrictions - overlap and create "operational confusion", leading to route blockages, higher risks of sanctions and significant delivery delays. The ban on transit along the Szeged - Baja stretch has eliminated the direct southern corridor used until December 31, 2025, generating detours of more than 200 km, extra costs of over 200 per trip, and tripling transit time through Hungary.
UNTRR mentions that additional restrictions include limits on Main Road 42 (Berettyóújfalu - Artand/Bors I), closed to freight vehicles over 7.5 tons except for local traffic, and Main Road 55, which can only be used for traffic to Baja, with vehicles over 20 tons barred between midnight and 5 a.m. UNTRR said these measures "do not allow international transit" and worsen confusion for cross-border operators.
The organization warned that diversions cause goods to miss delivery deadlines, disrupt contracts and logistics chains, and in many cases delay trips by a full day due to driving-time limits and mandatory rest periods.
"Forcing carriers to detour about 200 km, with the loss of up to one day of transport, represents a disproportionate and unjustified restriction of the free movement of goods, without basis in Directive 1999/62/EC (Eurovignette)," UNTRR said, adding that the measures contravene EU principles of proportionality, non-discrimination and free movement.
The union called on Hungarian authorities to restore the Romania - Croatia transit route via the Szeged - Baja - M6 sector, clarify international transit rules separately from tonnage and timetable restrictions, and reassess measures that "seriously affect cross-border transport."
UNTRR is a professional and employers' organization representing more than 16,000 companies engaged in domestic and international transport of goods and passengers.
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