Anticipates Increase in Road Freight Traffic Overseen by National Government
In Germany, overall goods traffic has shown a steady increase from 692.5 billion tonne-kilometers in 2017 to a predicted 698.1 billion tonne-kilometers in 2021, despite a significant decrease in new truck registrations in recent years.
Recent data indicate a decline in new truck registrations, with a 9.6% year-on-year drop in May and a staggering 33.3% drop in June 2025. This trend suggests that goods traffic on German roads has not grown through an increase in registered trucks in 2025.
However, German exports and imports have shown modest growth, implying ongoing goods movement demands. For instance, exports rose 0.8% in June 2025, and imports increased by 4.2% compared to the previous month. This trade activity could translate into continued or increased goods traffic by existing vehicles or alternative transportation modes.
The impact on climate protection remains uncertain. Higher goods traffic typically leads to greater emissions from diesel trucks, posing a challenge to Germany’s climate goals. However, the downward trend in truck registrations may reflect a response to stricter environmental policies or shifts to alternative modes (e.g., rail, more efficient logistics), which can mitigate climate impacts.
Dietmar Bartsch, the chairman of the Left faction in the Bundestag, has criticized the increase in goods traffic on Germany's roads for harming climate protection and causing nuisance to many residents. He has called on the federal government to strengthen rail traffic with clear guidelines.
In 2017, approximately 131.2 billion tonne-kilometers of goods were transported by rail in Germany, accounting for around 28% of the total goods traffic. The federal government predicts that goods traffic by rail will amount to around 126.9 billion tonne-kilometers in 2021, representing a slight decrease from 2017 levels.
In contrast, goods traffic on Germany's roads increased to approximately 486 billion tonne-kilometers in 2017 and is predicted to reach around 504.4 billion tonne-kilometers in 2021. This represents a steady increase in road freight volumes despite the decline in new truck registrations.
In summary, while goods traffic volumes might be stable or increasing due to ongoing trade, vehicle registration trends point to a decrease in new heavy goods vehicles. This could affect climate protection efforts positively if coupled with cleaner technology or modal shifts. The federal government's focus on strengthening rail traffic and clear guidelines could play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions from goods transport in Germany.
The trend of decreasing new truck registrations could help mitigate climate change, as higher goods traffic typically leads to increased emissions. However, the federal government predicts a slight decrease in rail goods traffic from 2017 levels. In contrast, road freight volumes continue to increase, highlighting the need for cleaner technology and modal shifts to support climate protection efforts. The decrease in truck registrations could also be a response to stricter environmental policies or a shift towards alternative transportation modes like rail. Dietmar Bartsch, a notable political figure, has advocated for strengthening rail traffic to reduce the nuisance and harm to the environment caused by increased goods traffic on the roads.
