The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport has established a new legal framework with the Remote Control Road Traffic Regulation (StVFernLV) for the operation of remotely controlled vehicles on public roads. The ordinance was published on July 29, 2025, and comes into effect on December 1, 2025. According to the announcement, this makes the legally secure use of teleoperations in public road traffic possible.
This creates, as described by Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Minister of Transport, a clear legal framework for the testing of remotely controlled motor vehicles in public road traffic.
“In a five-year testing phase, we enable innovation without losing sight of safety and responsibility. The regulation enables new mobility concepts and lays the foundation for a permanent legal framework.”
The ministry understands teleoperation as the control of a motor vehicle by a person who is not in the vehicle but at an external control center—a technology on which the system developed by Fernride is based, enabling hybrid control of commercial vehicles. The system combines automated driving functions with human remote control. The vehicles operate autonomously as a rule, with teleoperators intervening selectively when needed. This so-called “Human-Assisted Autonomy” is intended to stabilize operational processes, especially in non-standardized situations such as complex maneuvering or unclear traffic situations.
Control Center Technology with Direct
Vehicle Connection
The teleoperator is located at an external control center equipped with control elements such as a steering wheel, pedals, and joysticks. Control is executed in real-time via a digital interface. The vehicle continuously transmits camera images and sensor data to the control center. To securely transmit control commands, Fernride relies on mobile network connections with high bandwidth and latency optimization. Redundant communication channels and encryption are intended to ensure operational safety.
Pilot Operation on Closed Operational Sites
So far, however, this system is only used in enclosed logistics areas, such as company premises, container terminals or transshipment points. There, the system primarily assumes tasks in what is known as yard shunting—such as moving trailers or containers within an operational site. Company-specific traffic regulations generally apply to these operations. During the pilot phase, a safety driver remains in the vehicle to intervene if necessary. The control center is additionally equipped with emergency stop systems.
The expansion of teleoperation technology to the public road traffic space with the Remote Control Road Traffic Regulation opens up entirely new prospects for the further development of existing mobility and transport concepts. The new legal framework initially applies for a testing phase spanning five years.
Applications in Urban and Commercial Traffic
The ministry sees potential in various areas. For example, it would
be conceivable that with the help of remote control technology, vehicles used in carsharing could be transferred to the next customer without driving personnel. The operation of driverless taxis could also be realized through teleoperation. These could be on-demand and flexible, without having a driving person on board.
In the municipal area, the ministry sees application possibilities in public transport and service and supply trips. Smaller or larger vehicles could complement existing offers through remote operation and cover new mobility needs.
Relevance for Freight Transport
The new regulation also opens new perspectives for road freight transport companies. Remotely controlled vehicles could help make logistics processes more efficient. The ministry considers it conceivable that vehicles could operate without driving personnel or be supported remotely only in specific situations, for example, to increase vehicle availability or reduce downtime.
Another aspect concerns the combination with autonomous driving functions. Teleoperation can serve as an additional control option for vehicles with automated systems. In complex traffic situations, a remote-controlling person can intervene situationally, enhancing the operational capability of autonomous systems.
It would be conceivable that the regulation opens an additional perspective for the successfully completed ATLAS-L4 Research and Development Project (Automated Transport between Logistics Centers on Highways at Level 4). It has brought the autonomously driving truck for hub-to-hub transport onto highways—but still
with a safety driver on board.
Legal and Technical Requirements for Freight Transport
For the use of remotely controlled vehicles in freight transport, clear legal and technical requirements continue to apply. Use is only permitted within a previously approved operational area. Each vehicle requires an individual operating license from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, which applies to the entire system—consisting of the vehicle and the control center.
The remote-controlling person must be physically present domestically, hold a valid driver's license, and have undergone special training. During remote control, they are not allowed to operate another vehicle. Particularly relevant for freight transport: the transportation of dangerous goods is excluded.
Technically, vehicles must be able to reach a risk-minimizing state at any time, such as by automatically coming to a standstill. Furthermore, reliable image and data transmission, emergency stop systems, and a functioning safety concept are required. Data collection is also regulated: companies must store certain operational data and provide it to authorities when needed.
Compliance with these requirements is a prerequisite for the legally secure operation of remotely controlled commercial vehicles within the five-year test phase. Companies wanting to examine teleoperation as part of their logistics processes should start planning early and incorporate approval procedures. The regulation thus provides the opportunity to realistically test new automation steps in road
