Kallas approves heavier trucks on European roads
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EUROPEAN TRANSPORT Commissioner Siim Kallas has given the green light for 60-tonne units to travel on cross-border journeys between countries, providing adjoining member states agree.
However, he was forced to apologise to the European Parliament’s Transport Committee for not having informed them before news spread that the commission was lifting the ban on cross-border usage of longer and heavier trucks.
Such trucks have been used successfully in Sweden and Finland for many years, helped by wide roads, low trafic and forestry and mineral needs.
“This is the perfect case to allow member states to decide based on local circumstances,” says Kallas, adding that the European Commission will not propose any amendment to the relevant directive (96/53).