EU Commission: cross-border use of mega trucks unlawful

18 Mar 2010. The cross-border use of mega trucks between Germany and Denmark as well as between Denmark and Sweden contravene current EU directives. This was made clear in a statement issued today by the European Commission in response to a parliamentary question.
Nevertheless are mega trucks for a long time in use between Denmark and Sweden – 1500 longer and heavier trucks are crossing the Øresund Bridge every month. Since December 1 2009, mega trucks are also being regularly used between Denmark and Nützen-Kampen near Kaltenkirchen in Germany, crossing the border at Ellund – with the full knowledge and permission of the government of Schleswig Holstein.

Schleswig Holstein’s state government was applauded above all by Danish road hauliers for its decision to press ahead with allowing LHVs. The association representing internationally active Danish road transport companies, ITD, hailed Schleswig Holstein’s decision as a “door opener” that would lead to a “corridor solution” for mega truck traffic between northern Europe and the port of Hamburg.

Already in March 2009 the then EU Commissioner for Transport, Antonio Tajani, made this statement in an interview with No Mega Trucks: “The idea of bilateral agreements between Member States on such a question contradicts the idea of the Single Market and raises also questions about a possible distortion of competition.”