44 tons on 5 axles in Europe : overview of the situation
A directive from the European Union sets the limit to 40 tons for road haulage. However, the EU gives each state the opportunity to allow or not the traffic of 44 tons road haulage and to define a maximum load per axle. In the UK, road haulage companies are allowed to use 44 ton trucks since 2009 but on 6 axles.
A directive from the European Union sets the limit to 40 tons for road haulage. However, the EU gives each state the opportunity to allow or not the traffic of 44 tons road haulage and to define a maximum load per axle. In the UK, road haulage companies are allowed to use 44 ton trucks since 2009 but on 6 axles.
The 44 tons on 5 axles, the rules in several European countries
Lots of countries of the European Union have already allowed the traffic of 44 ton trucks on 5 axles. This is the case in France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Albania and in the Czech Republic. It is also allowed in the UK but on 6 axles.
In the northern countries of Europe, authorizations can go up to 60 tons
In the Netherlands, the authorization allows the haulage of up to 50 tons on 5 axles. In Denmark, Sweden and Finland, the haulages can reach 60 tons. However, each Scandinavian country sets a minimal axle number for these 60 ton trucks: 7 axles in Finland and Denmark, 5 axles in Sweden.
Germany, Spain: the 44 ton trucks still in talks
In Germany, a trial was conducted in 2012 on motorways. The 44 ton haulage was authorized but the German environmentalists fear the spread of this authorization will just send the freight transporter by railway on the roads.
In Spain, the Catalonia region considers allowing the 44 ton trucks shortly in order to base its legislation on the one of France to favour the transborder traffic. Once the decision is made in Catalonia, the haulage with 44 ton trucks on 5 axles could widespread in Spain.
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