Heavy trucks traveled less on Germany’s tolled federal motorways in October: the calendar- and seasonally-adjusted mileage index fell 1.6 per cent from September. Mileage was still 0.5 per cent higher than a year earlier after calendar adjustment. The toll-based measure is available before industrial production figures and provides an early indicator of economic activity, without a breakdown by sector.
Toll-paying trucks with at least four axles traveled 1.6 per cent less on Germany’s federal motorways in October than in September, after calendar and seasonal adjustment.[1], [2]
Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, and Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility jointly released the result on 9 November. Compared with October 2025, mileage rose 0.5 per cent after calendar adjustment.[1]
The index uses digital process data from truck toll collection to measure distance traveled by the covered vehicles. The logistics agency developed the series, while Destatis prepares adjusted indicators for Germany and its states. The method largely removes changes to the tolled road network and vehicle weight thresholds so that economic movements are easier to distinguish.[1]
Truck mileage figures become available approximately a month before the industrial production index. The agencies use the relationship between economic activity and transport demand to provide an early indicator, although the data have no breakdown by economic sector. More detailed monthly toll statistics include vehicle registration countries and emissions classes; these require additional processing and generally appear later.[1]
