Industry coalition warns EU truck-size reform could reverse rail freight shift
Sixteen European associations have warned that proposed changes to cross-border truck regulations could pull substantial freight volumes off rail and inland waterways, threatening the EU’s climate goals.
The coalition argues that wider deployment of longer and heavier European Modular System (EMS) vehicles under the revised Weights and Dimensions Directive (WDD) risks reversing hard-won modal shift gains.
The joint letter, claims EMS expansion would be “incompatible” with the European Commission’s rail freight growth targets. The signatories estimate up to 21% of rail freight could switch to road, translating into an additional 6.7 to 13.3 million truck trips per year across the EU.
Intermodal equipment at risk
A core concern centres on longer semi-trailers exceeding the current 13.6-metre standard. Such units would not fit much of the existing rail rolling stock or some inland vessels, undermining years of intermodal investment. The letter also highlights safety issues: heavier and longer combinations would likely carry dangerous goods yet face gaps in driver qualification requirements.
The WDD forms part of the Commission’s Greening Freight Package. The European Parliament adopted its first-reading position in March 2024, and the file now sits with the Council. Denmark’s current EU presidency aims to reach a general approach during the second half of 2025, setting the stage for trilogue negotiations.
Road-sector groups, including ACEA and national logistics associations, have separately urged swift WDD adoption to accelerate zero-emission truck deployment and improve EMS efficiency, illustrating the divide between road and rail stakeholders.
Why it matters: The dispute underscores a direct clash between road efficiency arguments and EU modal-shift commitments, with intermodal standards caught in the middle.
What’s next: Council deliberations under the Danish presidency will determine whether intermodal safeguards are built into the final text before trilogues begin.