Belgium – This week the European Parliament in Brussels has agreed improved Weights and Dimensions Directive rules*, moving from an initial 40-tonne heavy-goods gross vehicle combination weight limit to 44-tonnes. The caveat, however, is that after 2034, these weight exemptions will only apply to zero-emission vehicles as the EU attempts to phase out diesel ICE trucks. This ensures that zero-emission vehicles will not have to sacrifice cargo weight on long-haul journeys, which require bigger, more powerful and heavier batteries. This amendment still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament.

The European transport industry is divided with some highlighting the potential safety concerns of the increased freight weight and others, such as the Transport & Environment (T&E) NGO, warning of giving diesel lorries a competitive advantage by allowing the same weight increase as zero-emission vehicles.

ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association) has welcomed this decision as a step towards levelling the playing field between zero-emission and diesel vehicles. Thomas Fabian, Chief Commercial Vehicles Officer at ACEA said:

Existing rules on weights and dimensions are no longer fit for purpose and actually penalise zero-emission vehicles, which are typically heavier. The four-tonne weight increase and the one-tonne axle increase agreed by the Parliament both aim to redress the imbalance with diesel models, but further adjustments are needed.

*In July 2023, the European Commission tabled a package of proposals for the greening of freight transport. Among the three proposals is one on the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, which sets limits for heavy goods vehicles in international road transport. The proposal seeks to further promote use of zero-emission trucks by allowing these to exceed the standard weight limits. It also seeks to clarify the rules on use of heavier and longer vehicles in cross-border transport operations between countries where such vehicles are allowed, promote intermodal transport and simplify administrative procedures, while also improving enforcement of the rules. In the European Parliament, the file has been referred to the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), which has appointed Isabel García Muñoz (S&D, Spain) as rapporteur. She published her draft report on 20 October 2023. The TRAN committee adopted its report on 14 February.