European parcel operators GLS and DPD are both increasing their road toll surcharge in Germanyby one cent for each package from 1 August onwards, responding to the introduction of the road
charges to numerous federal roads in the country.DPD Germany spokesman Peter Rey confirmed the toll surcharge increase to CEP-Research: “From 1August, we will charge one cent more per parcel due to the extension of the toll charge obligation.The idea behind it is to pass the increase on to our customers, in proportion to the expenses. Weadjust the prices on a regular basis, according to the toll charge requirements.”
For trucks weighing over 12 tonnes, the German federal government has been imposing tolls on13,000 km of highways since 2005. As part of the new regulation, however, an additional 1,000 km offederal roads will be also charged for. This concerns 80 sections with four traffic lanes, whichare connected to highways and are longer than 4 km.
The basis for the toll charges is the German “Law for the new regulation of toll-relateddirectives for federal roads”, which came into effect on 19 July 2011.
The federal government expects to collect around €100 million from the federal road tolls, GLSGermany explained. GLS CEO Rico Back commented: “For GLS Germany, the additional charges mean aserious additional burden.”
The company said it had already informed its customers about the increase, and that the chargeswill be indicated transparently and separately in the invoices.
