Overloading on highway-trucks – dangers and fines

4. April 2025

A wide variety of goods are transported on Germany’s roads every day. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 4.5 billion tons of goods were loaded onto trucks and delivered to their destinations in 2015 alone. However, the heavy weight of the trucks means that the infrastructure has to be adapted again and again so that goods can continue to be transported. The high loads often cause damage to the roads, meaning that regular maintenance and frequent repairs are necessary. However, since these can quickly become very expensive, there are various rules in place to help keep the damage to a minimum. In addition, the Regulation on Overloading is intended to increase road safety, which plays a significant role, especially with regard to dangerous goods.

The dangers of overloading

The overloading regulation ensures that the permissible total weight of trucks on the roads is not exceeded. In addition to damaging the roads, overloaded trucks also pose a high safety risk. Therefore, overloading is subject to heavy fines. Overloading can cause uneven distribution and thus uneven loading on the various axles. This can cause the truck to start swerving very quickly, endangering not only other road users but also the driver himself. In the event of an emergency stop, the load is hurled through the vehicle interior, which can cause inattentiveness in the current traffic situation or injuries to the vehicle occupants. Exceeding the permissible maximum weight can also put a high load on the tires, causing the tread to wear faster and a firm grip on the road can no longer be guaranteed. This case also poses a risk to road safety. Anyone who takes such a risk and is caught by the police will be banned from driving until the load has been reduced. In addition, various sanctions will follow.

Sanctions and fines

In Germany, the driver and not the owner of the vehicle is initially prosecuted for administrative offences. However, in the event of overloading, not only the driver but also the company will be fined. In addition, a point on the license can be expected. The fines for overloading and incorrectly securing loads can amount to as much as €425 for the vehicle owner if the permissible total weight is exceeded by 25 percent. Points are also imposed in Flensburg on vehicle owners who do not hold a driver’s license themselves. So if you want to avoid expensive penalties, you should educate yourself about overloading and how to avoid committing the offense.

For more information on the transport of goods, see CMR: the consignment note.

For alternatives to trucks on roads, see the study: Trucks on Rails – ELANS, the AutoBahn of the Future?