Revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive - a BusinessEurope position paper

Key messages

Facilitate the cross-border provision of road transport services through an effective and targeted harmonisation of rules regulating cross-border transport operations of heavy-duty vehicles between Member States, without leaving any room for certain market fragmentation practices at national level.
Where a Member State makes use of national derogations, allow the cross-border transport with the same weights and dimensions as permitted under national rules, including European Modular Systems (EMS).
While incentivising and promoting innovative and new vehicle technologies and their market uptake, uphold the principle of technological neutrality. In doing so, develop new vehicles considering technical interoperability with other modes to facilitate their use in intermodal transport operations.
Extend the allowance of the cross-border circulation of 44-tonne non-zero emission vehicles beyond 31 December 2034, as currently foreseen by the Commission.
Increase ambitions regarding the cross-border use of EMS and other vehicle combinations and prevent any additional barriers at national level that might restrict such transport operations.
Ensure coherence with related EU legal acts, such as the Regulation on a Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the Combined Transport Directive, CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles and EU type-approval rules.