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REPORT (COM(2023)0445 – C90306/2023 – 2023/0265(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic

A-9-2024-0047

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Isabel García Muñoz

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal to amend Directive 96/53/EC on maximum weights and dimensions of road vehicles. It adds rules on European Modular Systems, permits for indivisible loads, zero-emission vehicle length and weight, a single EU length label, and enforcement. It requires prior assessments and monitoring for new EMS routes, driver certification schemes, and a European web portal with national access points. It sets a phase-out of fossil-fuel heavier lorries in international traffic as of 2035. It harmonises permit procedures for indivisible loads, including an EU common application form, electronic permits, and rules on escorts and vehicle markings. It bans language requirements for drivers of such transport. It requires certified automatic weight-detection systems on the TEN-T core network and allows Intelligent Access Policy schemes with common requirements. It encourages Member States to use penalty revenues for sustainable transport. It sets a single EU label for the length of long vehicles, allows extra length for zero-emission technology and aerodynamic cabs, and permits vehicle transporters to exceed maximum lengths up to 20.75 metres. It introduces an emergency clause allowing temporary exceptions from weight and dimension limits for up to two months, renewable if the crisis persists, and requires the Commission to report on the Directive every four years from 2027.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopts Parliament's position at first reading with amendments to the Commission proposal. It strengthens rules on EMS governance, permits for indivisible loads, enforcement, a single EU label, and a phase-out of fossil-fuel heavier lorries in international traffic as of 2035.

Key points

  1. Member States may allow national or international transport operations with weights or dimensions deviating from Annex I points 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 to 1.8, 2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.4 if they do not significantly affect international competition.
  2. For new EMS routes, Member States must make a prior public assessment of impacts on road safety, infrastructure, modal cooperation and the environment; existing routes are exempt.
  3. Member States must establish a monitoring system for EMS impacts on road safety, infrastructure, modal cooperation, traffic volumes and the environment, and take measures to avoid negative effects on vulnerable road users.
  4. Member States may set minimum requirements or certification schemes for EMS drivers, ensuring proportionality, non-discrimination and mutual recognition.
  5. Trials of new technologies may be allowed only after proving that the transport cannot be done by other modes with similar or superior safety and environmental benefits, and that intermodal competition is not significantly affected.
  6. EMS trials are allowed for a maximum of five years and can be renewed once for a maximum of three years, with justification to the Commission.
  7. Member States must ensure smooth, efficient and non-discriminatory permit procedures for indivisible loads, using an EU common standard application form, electronic permits, harmonised deadlines and escort rules, and must not impose language requirements on drivers.
  8. The Commission must establish a European web portal in all official languages linking national systems and showing where EMS and indivisible-load vehicles can circulate; Member States must provide a single national access point with weight, dimension and restriction information.
  9. A single EU label for the length of vehicles or combinations used in EMS or deviating from standard dimensions is established; Member States must ensure it is displayed at the rear, and the Commission must adopt detailed standards by one year after entry into force.
  10. Member States must establish certified automatic weight-detection systems on the TEN-T core network, able to recognise vehicles with special permits, and may use on-board weighing equipment.
  11. Member States are encouraged to use revenues from penalties to support sustainable transport, infrastructure, smart enforcement and intermodal operations.
  12. In a crisis, Member States may grant temporary exceptions from Annex I weight and dimension limits for national traffic for up to two months, renewable only if the crisis persists, with immediate notification and publication.

Who is affected

  • Road transport operators and drivers, who face new permit, labelling and driver certification rules.
  • Member States, which must set up assessments, monitoring, access points, enforcement systems and permit procedures.
  • The Commission, which must adopt implementing and delegated acts, manage a web portal and report regularly.
  • Operators of European Modular Systems and indivisible-load transport, who benefit from harmonised cross-border rules and permits.
  • Vulnerable road users, whose safety must be protected in EMS operations.

Figures and deadlines

  • 20.75 metres, the maximum total length vehicle transporters may reach while loaded.
  • 0.5 metres, the maximum forward protrusion of a load in front of the towing vehicle.
  • 1.5 metres, the maximum rearward protrusion of a load behind the vehicle.
  • 2035, the date from which heavier fossil-fuel lorries are phased out in international traffic.
  • five years, the maximum duration of EMS trials, renewable once for a maximum of three years.
  • two months, the maximum duration of temporary crisis exceptions, renewable if the crisis persists.
  • 2027, the year by which the Commission must present its first report, and every 4 years thereafter.
  • 6 months, the deadline for a Member State to inform the Commission how it will implement recommendations.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 91(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.