Weight

Sixty tonnes or 60,000 kilogrammes. It is hard to imagine such a mass, but it is the equivalent of around 52 medium sized cars such as a VW Golf. A fully loaded Boeing 737-300 aircraft with its maximum number of 127 passengers weighs 58 tonnes, slightly less than a mega truck.

A vehicle with a maximum of weight of 60 tonnes is the real goal of the mega truck lobby, which is made up of vehicle manufacturers and large road hauliers. The 'mega truck light' version that has been the subject of recent discussion would measure 25.25 metres but weigh 'only' 40 tonnes. However, this variation is only intended to be an interim – the mega truck lobby reckons that once longer trucks have been given the green light it is only a question of time before they can force though a weight increase. Today's 25.25 metre trucks already fulfil the technical requirements for 60 tonnes.

Why are heavier goods vehicles dangerous?

The severity of an accident increases with the weight of the vehicle. The impact energy released when a 60 tonne truck is involved in a collision is considerably greater than with a conventional vehicle weighing a total of 40 tonnes. Even at the current weight limits, the consequences of collision between a car and and truck are devastating. The chances of fatalities resulting from an accident are double when a heavy goods vehicle is involved.

In addition, the road-side crash barriers currently in use were not designed for heavier vehicles. The Federal Highway Research Institute concluded: “Crash barriers for 60 tonne articulated vehicles are currently not available. Upgrading the entire road network would not be economically viable”.