the European Parliament adopts the text authorizing their circulation

These trucks, also called “gigaliners”, can measure up to 25 meters. The equivalent of a tennis court.

A first light which turns green for the “megatrucks”. By 330 votes for and 207 against (74 abstentions), the European Parliament adopted at first reading, Tuesday March 12, the text which authorizes these trucks with extensions to drive on EU roads.

As it stands, their circulation still remains subject to final validation by the European Council. The text will in fact now be negotiated with the Member States. At the end, each State will be able to refuse the passage of these “megatrucks”, provided that it does not authorize it on its territory.

Also called “gigaliners”, these extendable trucks, made up of a container plus a trailer, can measure up to 25 meters (the length of a tennis court) and weigh 60 tonnes. They are already circulating in a handful of countries, including Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and Germany… Stated interest: save fuel and reduce carbon emissions by transporting more in fewer journeys.

The fear of “clogged roads”

But for rail players, this increased competitiveness of road transport will inevitably weaken their development. “We are firmly opposed to the increase in weight and size of non-electric trucks, to the cross-border flows of mega-trucks (…) which would circulate unhindered from Poland to Spainsays Sigrid Nikutta, boss of DB Cargo, a rail freight giant. This will clog our already congested roads, put pressure on bridges… The impact will wipe out environmental gains, by encouraging road use even when rail is more efficient and environmentally friendly.”

The initiative is also widely criticized by the environmentalists, all of whose amendments were rejected during the vote on Tuesday. “In France, the problem we have is that we do not have roads adapted to these mega-trucks at all,” regretted on France Inter the environmentalist MEP Karima Delli.

ForPresident of the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliamentthese “megatrucks” are also more dangerous “because the braking distance of these machines is much greater, which could increase the risk of road accidents by 80%, which is enormous.” On the other hand, “in terms of road safety, the constant increase in vehicles, particularly on the road, represents an additional and real danger.”