Long trucks can be used between Germany and Denmark

Haulage companies can now also use their long trucks in Denmark. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing and his Danish counterpart Thomas Danielsen signed a bilateral agreement today on the fringes of the EU Council of Transport Ministers that enables the cross-border use of long trucks between Germany and its northern neighbor. After the Netherlands, Denmark is the second neighboring country with which such an agreement has been concluded.

In Germany, long trucks can have a length of up to 25.25 meters and, according to the Federal Minister of Transport, should enable more goods to be transported with fewer journeys, thus saving CO2 and relieving traffic congestion. On average, two long truck journeys would make three journeys with conventional trucks possible, resulting in fuel savings of between 15 and 25 percent. In view of the growing volume of freight traffic and acute driver shortage, this is "an important contribution that we do not want to do without", said Wissing.

The bilateral agreement enables the cross-border use of German long trucks of types 2 to 5 and comparable Danish long trucks. In Germany, the existing regulations and road safety requirements will continue to apply. However, the same weight restrictions continue to apply as for conventional trucks. Directive 96/53/EC is currently being revised and provides for the future use of long trucks throughout Europe. (aum)