Trilogues on “Weights and Dimensions”: Europe must not allow unchecked growth of megatrucks

As the European Parliament and the Council of the EU enter trilogue negotiations on the revision of the Weights and Dimensions Directive, ETSC remains very concerned about how the legislation could lead to a massive expansion of these extraordinarily long and heavy vehicles.

While proponents of the new rules argue that allowing longer and heavier vehicles (LHVs) – often called “megatrucks” or “gigaliners” – will improve transport efficiency, ETSC is warning that without strict safeguards, this legislation will serve as a catalyst for a dangerous and unchecked expansion of these massive vehicles across the continent.

The reality of this “megatruck creep” is already visible. In Poland, the government is moving forward with legal changes and pilot programs to authorise 25.25-meter trucks weighing up to 60 tonnes. What was once intended to be a series of isolated trials is rapidly becoming a de facto standard. The new Polish example shows that the spread is already happening.

ETSC believes that, unless the European Parliament stands firm on safeguards, this could lead to a “free-for-all” where safety takes a backseat. The Council has already moved to delete requirements for monitoring the impact of these vehicles on road safety and infrastructure – a move ETSC condemns as “driving blind.”

For ETSC, two safeguards are non-negotiable if these vehicles are to be permitted. First, a mandatory pre-assessment of all roads and infrastructure where megatrucks are authorised is essential. Many European bridges, tunnels, and urban junctions were never designed to handle the turning circles or the extreme weights of 60-tonne loads. These assessments must be transparent, public, and conducted before any authorisation is granted, rather than after a bridge has been weakened or a tragic collision has occurred.

Second, there must be stricter standards for who can drive these vehicles. Recent changes to the Driving Licence Directive already risk putting 18-year-olds behind the wheel of heavy goods vehicles; allowing them to operate megatrucks without rigorous, LHV-specific certification would be a grave error. As a minimum, megatrucks should be driven by drivers with at least five years of HGV driving experience, additional training, and a clean driving record.