A coalition of European rail, intermodal and transport safety associations has called on EU institutions to restrict the deployment of European Modular System (EMS) trucks under the ongoing revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive.
The organisations cite an EU-wide perception survey of 5,400 citizens across all 27 Member States indicating that only 2% support cross-border circulation of longer and heavier trucks. A separate 2024 survey in nine Member States with more than 8,000 respondents found that over 60% of respondents in France, Italy and Austria oppose the deployment of “megatrucks”.
According to the 2024 survey, 73% of respondents believe megatrucks would accelerate road infrastructure deterioration, 68% expect negative effects on road safety and 85% foresee increased risks for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, 84% anticipate higher public spending on roads and bridges, while 75% believe wider deployment would weaken rail freight by reducing road transport costs.
The signatories argue that the draft legal text under negotiation does not sufficiently address impacts on modal shift, intermodal terminals, infrastructure wear, congestion or interoperability between modes. They also state that revising the Weights and Dimensions Directive without parallel treatment of the Combined Transport Directive risks legal inconsistencies.
If adopted without additional safeguards, the groups state that the measures could reduce rail and combined transport market share, affect investments in intermodal terminals, increase infrastructure maintenance needs and raise accident risks. They also warn of higher costs for public budgets linked to infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
The joint statement calls for additional weight allowances to be limited exclusively to zero-emission vehicles, excluding internal combustion engine trucks. It supports differentiated weight provisions reflecting battery mass, while rejecting sunset or review clauses that could prolong the circulation of heavier ICE vehicles.
The organisations also request strict limits on vehicle length and configuration to ensure compatibility with rail operations and intermodal terminals. They call for ex-ante and ex-post impact assessments based on common indicators across Member States, and for EMS deployment to remain under national control without automatic cross-border access, including for 44-tonne vehicles.
Further recommendations include allocating revenues from Weights and Dimensions infringements to sustainable and combined transport projects and establishing a European information framework to support cross-border intermodal operations.
Signatories include European associations such as CER, ERFA, UIC, UIP, UIRR and the European Cyclists’ Federation, alongside national organisations from Germany, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Belgium and Portugal.