Currently the maximum length of goods vehicles for use in the European Union, set by Council Directive 96/53/EC, is limited to 16.5 metres for articulated vehicles and 18.75 metres for drawbar combinations and the maximum mass authorised for international traffic is 40 tonnes with a maximum height of 4m. However, Member States are permitted to allow vehicles that deviate from the mass and height requirements in national traffic and can deviate from length and turning requirements in national traffic provided it does not substantially affect international competition, which is deemed to be the case if it is implemented in accordance with the modular concept (EMS). This system has been used for a number of years in Sweden and Finland to permit vehicles of up to 25.25m length and 60 tonnes maximum permitted mass and has been trialled or investigated in other Member States. The European Commission is considering whether amendments should be made to the Directive to permit longer and/or heavier vehicles in international traffic but the debate is a very sensitive one and the Commission have stated that they need to fully understand the economic implications of bigger and/or heavier vehicles as well as their technical implications for the road infrastructure, safety and the environment. This project is intended to provide that understanding.

This study is being carried out for the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport in the European Commission and expresses the opinion of the Consortium having undertaken it. It assesses positive and negative implications of a possible revision of the rules in force on weights and dimensions of heavy commercial vehicles, and will be one of the pieces of information that the Commission is assembling before taking a decision on whether or not to proceed with a revision to the current Directive. The views expressed in it have not been adopted or in any way approved by the European Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the European Commission's or the DG Mobility and Transport views. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the information given in the study, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.