Weights and dimensions directive: what longer and heavier trucks could mean in 2027
The weights and dimensions directive (96/53/EC) caps EU truck weights at 40 tonnes; its revision is not agreed and nothing changes on the road yet.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
The weights and dimensions directive is Directive 96/53/EC, which caps HGV weights and dimensions in EU international traffic, currently 40 tonnes for a 5-axle combination. Its revision is not agreed: trilogue talks between Parliament, Council and Commission continue as of 2026-11-05, and nothing changes on the road yet.
What does the weights and dimensions directive set today?
Directive 96/53/EC is the EU law that caps the weights and dimensions of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in international traffic. Under the current directive, as amended by Directive (EU) 2015/719, a 5-axle combination may weigh 40 tonnes, with up to 1 tonne extra for alternative-fuel vehicles and up to 2 tonnes extra for zero-emission vehicles. Our guides to the EU truck weight limit and the maximum truck dimensions cover what applies today.
The revision began on 2023-07-11, when the Commission published proposal COM(2023) 445. According to the EP Legislative Observatory , it would raise the limit for zero-emission vehicles to 44 tonnes, regardless of the actual weight of the technology.
What is on the table and what is still open?
Nothing is agreed, but each institution has a position. The Commission also wants countries that allow the European Modular System (EMS), meaning longer and heavier combinations, to let those vehicles cross into neighbouring EMS countries. Parliament adopted its position on 2024-03-12, per the EP Legislative Train , and the Council followed with a general approach on 2025-12-04.
Trilogue talks began on 2025-12-09. Reported sticking points include axle weight limits, the size of the zero-emission allowance, restrictions on the TEN-T (trans-European transport) network and the application date. On 2026-10-29, ACEA, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, called for a deal that supports zero-emission truck uptake.
| Issue | Status |
|---|---|
| Commission proposal (2023-07-11) | 44 tonnes for zero-emission vehicles; EMS use across borders between consenting countries |
| Parliament position (2024-03-12) | 4 tonnes extra for zero-emission trucks; EMS impact assessment first; EU route portal and length label |
| Council general approach (2025-12-04) | Reported: zero-emission bonus differs by axle count; up to 0.9 m extra length |
| Final text | Open: trilogues since 2025-12-09, no provisional agreement; nothing applies on the road |
Will 44 tonne or longer trucks be allowed in 2027?
Changes on the road in 2027 are unlikely, and that is an assessment rather than a date. Even after a provisional deal, Parliament and Council must formally adopt the text, and member states must then transpose it into national law. Until that sequence finishes, the limits described above stay in force. Plan loads, permits and routes on current rules, and treat EMS access as a country-by-country question.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weights and dimensions directive?
It is Directive 96/53/EC, the EU rulebook for maximum HGV weights and dimensions in international traffic. The revision proposed on 2023-07-11 is still being negotiated.
Are 44 tonne trucks allowed across the EU?
The standard EU limit for a 5-axle combination in international traffic is 40 tonnes. A 44 tonne limit for zero-emission vehicles is a Commission proposal, not law. National and intermodal rules can differ, so check the route country by country.
Will electric trucks be allowed to weigh more in the EU?
They already get up to 2 tonnes extra under the current directive. The Commission and Parliament propose more, and the Council reportedly differentiates the bonus by axle count, so the final size of the bonus is undecided.
When will the new weights and dimensions rules apply?
No date exists. The application date is one of the reported open points, and the directive still needs formal adoption and national transposition after a deal.
Planning a load near the weight limit? Request a compliance-aware freight quote before you commit to a route.
