Swiss road hauliers against Gigaliners

18 Sep 2009. Not only environmentalists are sceptical also the carriers think little of the longer and heavier trucks. The Swiss road transport association ASTAG, which represents most of the medium-sized transport companies, has now spoken out against the admission of oversized 60-ton trucks in Switzerland. The ASTAG informed that Gigaliners make no sense for economic reasons. Also road infrastructure and the environment would be unnecessarily burdened by Gigaliners.

Since 2005 Switzerland allows in accordance with EU Directive 96/53 commercial vehicles with a weight of up to 40 tons and a maximum length of 18.75 meters. According to the ASTAG an increase of the weights and dimension as currently discussed at EU level does not make sense for Switzerland. For a majority of the sector, which is dominated by small and medium-sized transport companies, the investment required would be far too costly and the benefit too small or nonexistent. The Central Committee of the ASTAG in Bern argues that possible cost savings were immediately nullified by falling transport prices.

The road infrastructure is also not suitable for the use of Gigaliners said the ASTAG. In the small area of Switzerland with relatively short transport distances, narrow roads and numerous bridges and tunnels, roads would be blocked and unnecessarily burdened. Also ecologically Gigaliners that cause more emissions than conventional vehicles are to be rejected.

See also: www.astag.ch