Long lorries: advantages of using vehicles
In the end of 2023, the Danish government signed a law allowing longer trucks. For now, the movement of vehicles up to 34 metres in length will be experimental and on certain roads. According to the document, long trucks and vehicles with extended trailers will be able to travel on the motorways between Aarhus and Heye-Taastrup.
The main argument in favour of vehicles up to 34 metres in length is the desire to optimise the use of road space. This type of transport also helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. One long vehicle can transport a volume of goods in one trip that would require several vehicles in a conventional van.
Longer vehicles help to achieve two things at the same time:
- reduce the number of cars on the road, reducing the likelihood of congestion;
- cut greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact.
Thomas Danielsen, the Minister of Transport, points out that longer trucks will require changes to the motorway network, but these will not require significant expenditure. For example, the government is planning to introduce so-called interchange points to make travelling with long trucks easier. The latter are locations for connecting or disconnecting double trailers.
Adopting the law and testing new lorries for Denmark is the first step towards improving the logistics industry. In the future, the government plans to work closely with neighbouring countries to expand cross-border transport opportunities. The authorities hope that long lorries travelling on Danish roads will be able to cross Swedish territory without any problems. They will not be penalised for overloading.
The situation with long trucks in neighbouring countries
Sweden is ahead of Denmark in adopting legislation on the movement of 34.5-metre lorries. A permit for this type of vehicle has been in force since August 2023. In addition to reducing emissions and traffic congestion, the local government cites the move as one of the solutions to the driver shortage. In Sweden, as in other European countries, there is a serious shortage of workers in the transport sector. The expectation is that there will be less need for drivers thanks to the longer trucks.
So far, road trains have had access to certain motorways, but the list is being extended.
It’s worth noting that Finland was the first country to use long lorries. Here, the movement of such transport will be allowed from 2019. Other European countries, including Poland, will follow the Scandinavian countries’ example. Its government is considering the possibility of allowing long lorries on local motorways.
