Introduction
In the US there is push from groups including the Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP) to ask Congress to raise the interstate weight limit for six-axle trucks. The current weight limit is 80,000 pounds and has been in place for the last 25 years. Industry groups like the CTP are asking for heavier, rather than larger trucks, to be allowed on the interstates. The proposal is for trucks of up to 97,000 pounds to be allowed which would, according to their figures, require fewer movements of goods and lead to a saving in road maintenance that could be billions of dollars. However, in Europe the advent of the Megatruck has already arrived and vehicles of 82 feet in length and 132,000 pounds in weight can found traveling along Europe’s freeways.
What is a Megatruck
In Europe there is a consideration by the European Union to allow longer and heavier trucks (LHV), also known as Megatrucks, EcoLiners, Eurocombi and many other names, to be allowed to travel across Europe’s road system. Road transport companies would like the regulations to allow vehicles of 25.25 meters (82.84 feet) and 60 metric tons (132,277 pounds) to move goods across Europe.
The size and weight of the proposed vehicles are far in excess of those seen on US roads and not all European nations are in favor of such large vehicles. Opposition groups have noted that these Megatrucks would actually weigh more than a fully loaded Boeing 737-300 carrying a maximum of 127 passengers and be only 7 meters shorter.
Megatrucks in Scandinavia
Although the megatruck is not seen across Europe yet, it has been allowed to travel along the highways of Sweden and Finland. Sweden has allowed LHV for over forty years. In 1966 a length limitation of 24 meters (78.7 feet) was introduced along with a 52 metric ton limit (114,640 pounds). Before 1966 there was no limitation on the length of a vehicle, although most all were below 30 meters (98.4 feet). The 24 meter (78.7 feet) vehicle length allows a vehicle to carry one 20 foot intermodal container on the rigid truck's 25 foot cargo space and a 40 foot container on the drawbar trailer and its 40.5 foot platform. The EU allowed the weight and size limits for Sweden and Finland to remain, but vehicles of this size are not allowed to cross borders into other European Nations.
Megatrucks and Other European Countries
Other European nations are considering allowing LHV’s on their roads including the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. All of these countries have or are considering trials of LHV’s .
- Denmark – A trial of megatrucks began in Denmark in 2008. The original trial was scheduled to be a three-year evaluation ending in 2011. However, the trial was extended another six years until 2017. The arguments that the new megatrucks can reduce the number of movements, save fuel, and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) have not been proven by either side and it may be up to the companies who operate road haulage to whether the LHV’s are used in Denmark. A survey by the University of Applied Sciences in Erfurt, of trucking companies found that 90 percent of respondents did not see a need for larger vehicles at this time.
- Germany – The trial of LHV’s has not yet started by is expected to commence sometime in 2012. The national government has announced the trial of megatrucks along autobahns and secondary roads despite the majority of federal states voting against any trial of LHV’s. Some federal states had allowed mini-trials of LHV’s back in 2006, but they were halted in 2007. The national trial of LHV’s is scheduled to last five years.
- Netherlands – Trials of megatrucks have been active since November 2007. The Dutch government allowed vehicles of 50 metric tons (110,231 pounds) to move along highways, but rejected a call for larger vehicles based on the assumption that the megatrucks would damage roads and bridges. The Dutch road haulage companies lobbied the government and a change to allow 60 metric tons (132,277 pounds) on to Dutch roads was passed.
