The European Parliament adopted by 330 votes to 207, with 74 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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.

The European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the proposal as follows:

Improve driver’s working conditions

The Directive is intended to improve the competitiveness of the road transport sector by promoting more cost-efficient and sustainable transport operations as well as encouraging intermodality.

In order to address this situation and enhance the attractiveness of the sector, Members consider that the increased dimensions required to install zero-emission technologies in vehicles should not be at the expense of sufficient cabin space and should improve the comfort of drivers . Where possible, concepts enabling additional space in the cabins for the installation of sanitary facilities on-board should be explored and incentivised.

Permits

Member States should issue the permits or similar arrangements in an electronic format and cooperate to further harmonise the permit issuing deadlines. They should also cooperate to harmonise the relevant rules for escorting transport of indivisible loads, such as on the prescribed use, markings and signs for escort vehicles.

European Modular Systems

Member States may allow the circulation in their territories in national and international traffic of European Modular Systems subject to all of the following conditions:

- for new EMS routes, the Member States should make a prior assessment of the possible impact of European Modular Systems on road safety, on the road infrastructure, on modal cooperation, as well as the environmental impacts of European Modular Systems on the transport system, including the impacts on modal split. The assessment should be made publicly available;

- Member States should ensure that appropriate measures are taken to avoid any possible negative impacts on road safety , including the safety of vulnerable road users, as a result of use of European Modular Systems.

Member States may establish minimum requirements or a certification scheme for the drivers of European Modular Systems, provided that they ensure proportionality and non-discrimination. Member States should cooperate to mutually recognise each other’s certifications.

Electronic information system

Member States should set up and manage an electronic information and communication system with a single national access point for obtaining information, in a clear, accessible, and transparent manner, regarding national maximum authorised weights and dimensions of vehicles, as well as any restrictions, including on height, in specified areas or on specific roads.

To ensure that operators and citizens can access all relevant information in one place, a dedicated European web portal, in all the official languages of the Union, connecting the national electronic and communication systems should be established by the Commission, at the latest by 6 months after the date of transposition of this Directive.

This European portal should also make publicly available, in an accessible and transparent way, the parts of the road network where European Modular Systems, and, where available, vehicles transporting indivisible loads, can circulate.

EU label

Members proposed the introduction of a standardised EU label for the length of motor vehicles or vehicle combinations used in European Modular Systems (EMS) or which deviate from standard dimensions should be established at Union level. That EU label, displayed clearly and visibly at the rear of their motor vehicle or vehicle combination, should clearly indicate the length of all the vehicles or vehicle combinations of this Directive in order to help other road users to identify and familiarise themselves with these vehicles and reduce any possible risks caused by visibility restrictions or blind spots, for example when overtaking.

Member States should take specific measures to detect vehicles or vehicle combinations in circulation that exceed the maximum authorised weight.

Maximum authorised dimensions for vehicles

Members proposed to allow 44 tonnes (instead of 42 tonnes) for two-axle motor vehicles with a three-axle semi-trailer involved in intermodal transport operations.

Revenues

Member States should be encouraged to use the revenues generated from the penalties applicable to the infringements of this Directive, or the equivalent in financial value of those revenues, to support the uptake of sustainable transport means and hence mitigate the external costs generated by transport operations, encourage intermodality, and increase the sustainability of cross-border transport operations.

Reporting

By 2027, and every 4 years thereafter, the Commission should present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council, on the application of this Directive. The report should contain a detailed assessment of the evolution of national and international road transport.

The report should analyse whether the necessary enabling conditions for the market uptake of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles in the Union, are satisfactorily met. In addition, the report should inform on technological advancements in the area of road transport which are relevant, including with regards to new technologies or new concepts and aerodynamic devices, as well as trailers or semi-trailers with zero-emission technology.

The Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted the report by Isabel GARCÍA MUÑOZ (S&D, ES) 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.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows:

Permits

Member States should ensure that the procedure for obtaining permits or similar arrangements for the transport of indivisible loads is smooth, efficient and non-discriminatory, by providing an EU common standard application form and by minimising administrative burdens and avoiding unnecessary delays. Member States should issue the permits or similar arrangements in an electronic format and cooperate to further harmonise the permit issuing deadlines.

European Modular Systems

Member States may allow the circulation in their territories in national and international traffic of European Modular Systems subject to all of the following conditions:

- for new EMS routes, the Member States should make a prior assessment of the possible impact of European Modular Systems on road safety, on the road infrastructure, on modal cooperation, as well as the environmental impacts of European Modular Systems on the transport system, including the impacts on modal split. The assessment should be made publicly available;

- Member States should ensure that appropriate measures are taken to avoid any possible negative impacts on road safety , including the safety of vulnerable road users, as a result of use of European Modular Systems.

Electronic information system

Member States should set up and manage an electronic information and communication system with a single national access point for obtaining information, in a clear, accessible, and transparent manner, regarding national maximum authorised weights and dimensions of vehicles, as well as any restrictions, including on height, in specified areas or on specific roads.

EU label

Members proposed the introduction of a standardised EU label for the length of motor vehicles or vehicle combinations used in European Modular Systems (EMS) or which deviate from standard dimensions should be established at Union level. That EU label should clearly indicate the length of all the vehicles or vehicle combinations of this Directive in order to help other road users to identify and familiarise themselves with these vehicles and reduce any possible risks caused by visibility restrictions or blind spots, for example when overtaking.

EU web portal

To ensure that operators and citizens can access all relevant information in one place, a dedicated European web portal, in all the official languages of the Union, connecting the national electronic and communication systems and providing, among others, a clear graphic overview of the roads on which EMS, and, where available, vehicles transporting indivisible loads, are allowed to circulate in the relevant Member States, should be established by the Commission, at the latest by 6 months after the date of transposition of this Directive.

Training certificates

The amended text stipulates that Member States should have the possibility to establish minimum requirements or a certification scheme for drivers of EMS. In order to ensure a level playing field that provides for equal treatment, and non-discrimination, of drivers and operators of EMS, Member States should guarantee that these certifications are mutually recognised in the concerned Member States.

Maximum authorised dimensions for vehicles

Members proposed to allow 44 tonnes (instead of 42 tonnes) for two-axle motor vehicles with a three-axle semi-trailer involved in intermodal transport operations.

Revenues

In order to make progress in the green and digital transitions and to comply with the objectives set in the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, particularly as regards the GHG emission reductions from the transport sector, Member States should be encouraged to use the revenues generated from the penalties applicable to the infringements of this Directive, or the equivalent in financial value of those revenues, to support the uptake of sustainable transport means and hence mitigate the external costs generated by transport operations, encourage intermodality, and increase the sustainability of cross-border transport operations.

Reporting

By 2027, and every 4 years thereafter, the Commission should present a report to the European Parliament and to the Council, on the application of this Directive. The report should contain a detailed assessment of the evolution of national and international road transport.

In addition, the report should analyse the use of the Intelligent Access Policy (IAP) schemes in regards to enforcement, taking into account their availability and cost-efficiency. Furthermore, the report should inform on technological advancements in the area of road transport which are relevant, including with regards to new technologies or new concepts and aerodynamic devices , as well as trailers or semi-trailers with zero-emission technology.

PURPOSE: to revise 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.

PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: Council Directive 96/53/EC (the Weights and Dimensions Directive), sets out the maximum permitted weights and dimensions of heavy-duty vehicles that can circulate on the Union’s roads in order to ensure road safety and the smooth functioning of the internal market as well as foster the energy and operational efficiency of transport operations and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from those operations. An evaluation of Directive 96/53/EC concluded that incentives to improve energy efficiency of road transport operations and reduce GHG emissions were insufficient and did not reflect the practical implications of using new zero-emission technologies , which can be heavier and take more space than combustion engine technologies. The national derogations allowing the circulation of longer and/or heavier vehicles have also resulted in a patchwork of diverging rules, hindering smooth cross-border heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) traffic in the EU and leading to loss of operational and energy efficiency. This mix of EU and national requirements, as well as bilateral arrangements, coupled with legal uncertainties, has also led to ineffective and inconsistent enforcement, especially in cross-border transport. These findings confirmed that there is a need to remove regulatory and technical barriers and provide stronger incentives for the uptake of the zero-emission technologies and energy saving devices in the heavy-duty vehicles sector.

This legislative proposal is part of the Greening Freight Package of proposals covering several modes of transport. Its aim is to advance the decarbonisation of freight transport, promote intermodal transport and complete the single European railway area. In addition to this proposal, it includes:

- the revision of Council Directive 92/106/EEC (the Combined Transport Directive) to encourage the use of intermodal transport;

- this proposed revision of Council Directive 96/53/EC on weights and dimensions;

- the proposal for a regulation establishing a harmonised framework for GHG emissions from freight and passenger transport services (the CountEmissions EU initiative).

CONTENT: the Commission proposal to revise Council Directive 96/53/EC seeks to accelerate the uptake of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles and promote intermodal transport . In particular, it aims to improve the energy and operational efficiency of road transport operations in the broader context of increased EU environmental and climate ambition by 2030 and EU climate neutrality by 2050 and to ensure the free movement of goods and fair competition on the internal road transport market.

The main objectives of the revision of the directive are to:

- remove regulatory and technical barriers and provide stronger incentives for the uptake of the zero-emission technologies and energy saving devices in the HDV sector;

- facilitate intermodal operations;

- clarify the rules on the use of longer and/or heavier HDVs in cross-border operations;

- make enforcement more effective and efficient.

The specific provisions of the proposal aim to:

- update the references to relevant legislation on the type-approval and market surveillance of vehicles and their trailers, and systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles;

- align the definitions of ‘trailer’ and ‘semi-trailer’ and the procedures to measure the maximum authorised dimensions with those of the vehicle type-approval legislation, adding the key definitions of ‘European Modular System’ and ‘vehicle transporter’ and the definition of ‘electronic freight transport information (eFTI) platform’;

- amend the definition of intermodal transport operation and necessary references to these kinds of transport to allow lorries, trailers and semitrailers used in intermodal operations to benefit from the same extra weight allowances as for road vehicles that carry containers or swap bodies and are used in containerised intermodal transport;

- provide legal clarity on the circulation of HDVs that exceed the weights and dimensions set in the existing Directive;

- require Member States to simplify and streamline the procedures for the issuance of national permits or the adoption of similar arrangements for the transport of indivisible loads in order to minimise the administrative burden for operators and avoid delays;

- introduce the obligation of cooperation between Member States with regard to the requirements on vehicle signalling or markings, and prevents disproportionate barriers in the form of national language requirements;

- extend the geographical scope of trials aimed at testing, assessing and progressively introducing new technologies and schemes, including EMS, which could be conducted also across borders, strengthens their temporary nature and sets up a maximum period of 5 years for such trials with European Modular Systems. Member States should set up a monitoring system to take advantage at EU level of the lesson learnt from the technology tested in trials as well as ensure the comparability of the information gathered, including the impact of EMS;

- remove artificial barriers to the cross-border movement of heavier lorries that prevent road transport from improving its operational, energy and environmental efficiency in the transition to zero-emission operations;

- raise the weight limit for zero-emission vehicles from the current 42 tonnes to 44 tonnes , regardless of the weight of the actual zero-emission technology. This means that operators will gain additional loading weight and therefore payload capacity if the technology becomes lighter;

- allow extra height for the carriage of high-cube containers , thus enabling standard vehicles to involve in this type of intermodal transport;

- clarify that the excess in maximum lengths provided for elongated cabs can be such that it can accommodate also zero-emission technologies, such as batteries and hydrogen tanks, in vehicles equipped with elongated cabs.