Longer and Heavier Goods Vehicles (LHVS): A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Issue in Belgium

This paper describes how the Council Directive 96/53/EC, amended by the Directive 2002/7/EC, limits the maximum authorized weights and dimensions in Member States of the European Union (EU). In Belgium, freight vehicles or vehicle combinations may not exceed the maximum length of 16.5 meters (articulated vehicles) or 18.75 meters (road trains) for the transport of dividable goods. Also, neither of these may exceed the maximal weight of 44 tons (≥ 5 axles). It is still possible for Member States of the European Union to allow vehicles or vehicle combinations exceeding those maximum authorized limits for the transport of dividable goods during a trial, but only for national traffic. Nevertheless the allowed vehicles or vehicle combinations may not significantly affect international competition in the EU. Nowadays freight combinations exceeding the European maximum weight and/or length limits are only allowed in Sweden and Finland and are tested in the Netherlands and Germany. A transport system allowing such freight combinations could be more sustainable, but therefore many relevant aspects should be considered. In Belgium, a workgroup, composed of different Belgian road administrations and some research institutes, has been established in order to collect objective scientific information about such freight combinations and their possible impacts taken into account the specific Belgian limiting conditions. The outputs of this work group can feed the debate about the desirability of such freight combinations at national and even at international level. This paper describes the different relevant (sustainable) aspects as examined by the work group in Belgium: International experience with such freight combinations; principal environmental, economic, social, legal and fiscal aspects and the impacts of such freight combinations on infrastructure, mobility and road safety.

• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Debauche, Wanda
  • Decock, D
• Conference:
  • Choice for Sustainable Development. Pre-Proceedings of the 23rd PIARRC World Road Congress
  • Location: Paris , France
  • Date: 2007-9-17 to 2007-9-21
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: The Choice for Sustainable Development. Pre-Proceedings of the 23rd PIARC World Road Congress

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commodities; Commodity density; Freight handling; Freight traffic; Freight transportation; Tractor trailer combinations; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Articulated vehicles; Longer combination vehicles; Multidisciplinarity
• Geographic Terms: Belgium
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01081335
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 28 2007 7:40AM