In a further initiative, the EU Commission is trying to establish particularly long or heavy lorries (also known as Gigaliners) throughout the entire EU. The justifications for the draft Directive range from a lack of drivers to an increase in road safety to environmental protection - the proposal is part of a legislative package to green freight transport, presented at the beginning of July. From  AK’s point of view, the arguments put forward are untenable. Due to the numerous problems that would be associated with a more simplified registration of Gigaliners in the EU, AK strictly rejects excessively long and heavy lorries on European roads.

Gigaliners exacerbate the problem of shifting traffic from road to rail
In terms of the green transformation, a shift of freight transport from road to rail is urgently needed. However, the introduction of Gigaliners would counteract this goal. A gradual increase in weight and length limits leads to increasing competitive pressure and a reduction of freight transport by road. This would not only be detrimental from an environmental perspective. A decline in freight transport by rail would also be associated with the loss of skilled employment in this sector.

In addition, the introduction of Gigaliners on Europe's roads could lead to worsening drivers’ working conditions. The Commission's proposal would increase the pressure on them even further:  More responsibility, increased need for training and longer loading and unloading times would be the result. A further decline in the already low wage level leads us to expect a "race-to-the-bottom" and an associated exodus from the industry. Driving breaks and rest times already pose a challenge to staff. Due to a lack of sufficiently available rest facilities, many drivers already spend their breaks, parking their vehicles on the hard shoulder. Longer lorries also mean an increasing demand for space at the rest areas. Thus, a further deterioration of the break situation is to be expected. As a representative of workers' interests, AK can therefore only reject Gigaliners.

Gigaliners also endanger road safety, increasing the risk of serious road accidents. Even now, overloaded lorries are a problem in road traffic. In general, the infrastructure is not suitable for the use of Gigaliners. Very complex structural adjustments would have to be made; driving on low-ranking roads, even conventional lorries repeatedly get into dangerous situations. The loading infrastructure is not suitable for Gigaliners, which means that switching to oversized lorries would involve major investments. When Gigaliners are involved in accidents, existing recovery vehicles of the fire brigade are not suitable for Gigaliners either, as they exceed the maximum weight of 40 tonnes. In addition, the visibility for all road users will be impaired and the severity of accidents will increase due to the additional weight.

Reducing avoidable empty runs: an effective means of combating driver shortage
Reducing the number of empty vehicles would be an effective way of tackling the problem of driver shortage. Throughout Europe, there is a gigantic number of empty vehicles, which pollute both environment and infrastructure. In Austria alone, 926 million kilometres (575 million miles) were driven without cargo last year. An EU-wide regulation on empty runs would be financially more beneficial and would make the use of Gigaliners obsolete.

In addition, AK recommends increasing the control density and improving the relevant standards. The existing draft Directive provides for each Member State to carry out six vehicle checks per one million vehicle kilometres (621 miles). In AK’s opinion, this requirement is clearly too low and has no deterrent effect against abuse.

AK is therefore vehemently opposed to the introduction of Gigaliners on European roads. The present Commission proposal to revise the Directive would have a negative impact on road safety, increase the work pressure on drivers and counteract the climate goals. However, before it becomes law, European Parliament and the Council must first take a position. It is to be hoped that the two legislative institutions will recognise the dangers inherent in the proposal.

Further information:
AK EUROPA: Maximum permissible dimensions and weights for trucks in European road freight transport
AK Europa: New CO2 standards for lorries and expansion of their scope to include buses
EU Commission: Green Deal: Greening freight for more economic gain with less environmental impact
AK EUROPA: Focus on workers in the transport sector
AK EUROPA: How to make transport more sustainable
EU Commission: Weights and Dimensions Directive 
ETF: Contradictions in EC’s Greening Transport Package