BRUSSELS – The EU member states have reached a political agreement on a revision of the European rules for vehicle weights and dimensions. The agreement should enable more efficient, sustainable and future-proof road transport, with specific benefits for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and intermodal transport. The transport sector speaks of an important breakthrough after years of difficult negotiations.
The agreement was reached by the EU ambassadors in Coreper (the Permanent Representatives Committee) on the basis of a compromise proposal from the Danish EU presidency. Transport organization IRU responds positively.
Important step for more efficient and greener road transport
According to IRU EU director Raluca Marian, the Danish presidency is showing “exceptional leadership” in breaking the deadlock. “This paves the way for a political compromise that strengthens the efficiency and sustainability of road transport,” she says.
The agreement contains a number of long-awaited measures that should help transporters deploy new technologies and increase logistics efficiency:
Better conditions for cross-border and intermodal transport, with the option to allow higher weights for cross-border journeys with ZEVs or for intermodal transport.
A clearer and more consistent European framework for the European Modular System (EMS), allowing longer and more efficient vehicle combinations to be better used where infrastructure allows.
A new crisis clause, which provides temporary flexibility during emergencies to keep essential supply chains running.
One of the most discussed parts is the proposal to allow 44 tons for zero-emission trucks in cross-border transport. According to the IRU, this gives transporters “the confidence to deploy ZEVs on a larger scale without loss of payload or competitiveness”.
Important step towards climate goals
The revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive should contribute to the EU climate goals, while preserving the crucial role of road transport in logistics chains. The new rules provide additional flexibility to make zero-emission trucks profitable and support a smoother transition to sustainable transport.
Next phase: ministers and European Parliament
The agreed text will now go to EU transport ministers, who must formally adopt the General Approach. Negotiations (trilogues) can then begin with the European Parliament, which already took its own position a year ago.
Marian emphasizes the urgency: “The decarbonization goals are already there. Our sector is in a hurry. We are happy that the Member States realize that they must act quickly to create the right preconditions.”
The IRU calls on European ministers to continue the process without delay and to arrive at final European legislation as quickly as possible.
