Background

On the 12th of April 2002 the "Gesetz zur Einführung von streckenbezogenen Gebühren für die Benutzung von Bundesautobahnen mit schweren Nutzfahrzeugen" (law on the introduction of distance-based tolls for the use of German motorways with heavy commercial vehicles) - in short: "motorway toll law" - has become effective. It is the legal basis for the motorway toll ("Autobahn-Maut"), an additional duty which the transport industry will have to pay for the use of German motorways. The introduction of the toll has become effective on 1st January 2005.

Following the decree about the toll amount passed by the Federal Government the toll for trucks heavier than 12 t permissible maximum weight has been fixed at an average 12,4 Cent per kilometre driven on the motorway. The toll is to be paid either automatically (with the help of an "On-Board Unit" to be installed in the vehicle), or manually (at toll terminals) or via Internet. Therefore the distance covered on the motorway is the basis for the toll.

The extra cost for the transport industry caused by the motorway toll are inevitably passed on to the customer and therefore result in an increase of the consumer prices.

Thus the motorway toll will burden the industry and consumers with additional costs of more than 3.4 billion Euros per year, for the benefit of the exchequer. The revenue is supposed to be used for the improvement of the traffic infrastructure.

How GLS Germany handles the decree

The new "the new motorway toll law" brings about a considerable increase of costs also for GLS Germany. Cost increases of this extent can neither be absorbed by rationalisation measures, nor be borne by the carrier.

Therefore GLS Germany has to pass on the additional charges to the customers. Since the new law has come into effect, our customers find the toll separately disclosed in the invoices.

Just contact your GLS depot for more information about how the motorway toll affects your parcel transport.

The motorway toll...

• ... is a transport tax raised by the Federal Government.
• ... is for the benefit of the exchequer only.
• ... has to be paid by the transport industry to the State.
• ... means additional costs in connection with the supply of the service, that must finally be borne by the consumers.