Germany after the elections: Yes to mega trucks?

8 Oct 2009. A few days after the elections in Germany traffic experts of the government parties have announced a policy change towards longer and heavier trucks. During the coalition negotiations the traffic work group decided for nationwide tests of mega trucks.

The government’s plans were met with criticism by the German Pro-Rail Alliance. “All the facts about these so-called Gigaliners have been known for ages,” said Klaus-Dieter Hommel, chairman of the Pro-Rail Alliance. “Mega trucks damage the environment, are a danger to road safety and will require expensive modifications to be made to road bridges and junctions. Taxpayers and the environment will have to pay the costs, but only a small minority will profit.

Hommel announced a “giant wave of protests” against this kind of “backward-looking clientele policies”. “In times of budget shortfalls, the public’s welfare should be paramount when making transport policy,” said Hommel in reference to a Forsa opinion poll which showed that three quarters of Germans are opposed to the introduction of mega trucks.