Informationen zu Lang-LKW

Since 1 January 2017, long trucks have been allowed to drive on certain roads in Germany for an unlimited period. The conditions for this have been legally regulated by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.

According to this, certain requirements apply to drivers and vehicles.

The requirements for the driver are:

• five years' uninterrupted possession of the CE driving licence,

• five years' proven professional experience in commercial road haulage or own-account transport,

• completion of a familiarisation course.

The vehicle requirements are:

• The length of long trucks must not exceed 25.25 m, depending on the type of vehicle or vehicle combination.

• The transport of liquid bulk goods in large tanks, hazardous goods, live animals or free-swinging fixed goods, which affect the driving stability due to their mass, with a long truck is prohibited.

• Long trucks are only allowed to drive on suitable roads that have been notified by the federal states (so-called positive network).

• The total mass may not exceed 40 tonnes or 44 tonnes in combined transport on journeys to or from transhipment facilities to rail or waterways.

The positive network is updated and extended by the responsible Federal Ministry. At present, the positive network has a length of almost 11,600 kilometres.

Long trucks are often incorrectly referred to as "gigaliners". The latter are sometimes used abroad, but have a higher weight of up to 60 tonnes. This is not permitted in Germany.

There are additional rules for two types of long trucks:

• The so-called extended semi-trailer (articulated vehicle up to an overall length of 17.80 metres) may initially be used for a further seven years.
• Long trucks of the so-called type 2 (articulated vehicle with central axle trailer up to an overall length of 25.25 metres) may be used for a further year for a limited period.

Since 1 January 2017, long trucks have been allowed to drive on certain roads in Germany for an unlimited period. The conditions for this have been legally regulated by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.