The associations CER, ERFA, UIRR, UIP, UNIFE, European Transport Saftey Council, Alpine Initiative, CIPRA International fear that Tomorrow, MEPs will vote on the amendments proposed to the 1996 Weights and Dimensions Directive, can remove the current restrictions on the movement of gigaliners allowing extra-large trucks to drive on the European Roads, authorisation which, as pointed out by the Italian associations Fermerci and Fercargo ( of the 8th March 2024), would pose a significant risk to the competitiveness of rail transport.

To avert this, the eight associations have sent a letter to MEPs in which they explain the concerns of the railway sector if the current text, voted tomorrow in the Assembly will be adopted without further amendments. In absence of further amendments - the associations specified The letter would support "a proposal that encourages the cross-border circulation of 44-inch trucks until 2035 tonnes, powered by internal combustion engines, creating a incentive for vehicles burning fossil fuels, which goes to against what was expected, and at a time when the transport is still experiencing an increase in emissions."

It would create, they underlined in the letter, "a incentive for the spread of "Gigaliners" or "mega-trucks", longer and/or heavier vehicles (LHV), also known as the European Modular System (EMS), which are truck and trailer combinations that are typically 25.25 meters in length, almost nine meters longer than the standard trucks in Europe, and weigh 60 tons. They are long as many as six passenger cars and slightly lower, but they weigh as much as a fully loaded Boeing 737-300. So far, they recalled LHVs were admitted on the basis of strict conditions as part of trials or special bilateral agreements. The Road Safety Impacts of Wider Adoption of 'gigaliners' across the EU have not been fully evaluated'.

In the letter, CER, ERFA, UIRR, UIP, UNIFE, ETSC, Alpine Initiative, CIPRA International have highlighted that the green light to the text without further amendments would contribute 'to the Spread of gigaliners powered by the same combustion engines increasing the already significant gap in competitiveness between road and rail, hampering efforts to to promote intermodality and foster a reverse modal shift towards the road, a mode that Higher emissions, lower efficiency standards energy and security and, therefore, raising increasing concerns about the impacts of LHV vehicles on the road through fragile regions such as the Alps."

In addition, the associations noted that the circulation of Gigaliner would also have an impact on road infrastructure and road safety, as arterial roads and tunnels road vehicles are not designed for these mega-trucks, as well as safety, given that the current specific technologies available are not tested on gigaleners.

"In conclusion," the letter warns, "without being amended, the proposal you are voting on is likely to damage the European citizens in a number of ways. Fails to grasp the full impact on the freight transport sector as a whole, and on the objective of promoting decarbonisation, reducing emissions and to maintain high safety standards in the Transport. We urge you - concluded CER, ERFA, UIRR, UIP, UNIFE, ETSC, Alpine Initiative, CIPRA International - prioritise zero-emission vehicles and maintain the current restrictions on the movement of gigaliners'.