Spain Approves Megatruck Circulation Without Prior Authorization

The Ministry of the Presidency has published a crucial Ministerial Order in the Official State Gazette (BOE) that amends the General Vehicle Regulations. This reform, long-awaited by the sector, primarily aims to improve environmental sustainability and operational efficiency in road freight transport in Spain, seeking to promote the decarbonisation of the logistics chain. In practice, it grants the green light for the circulation of megatrucks without prior authorization.

The new regulation aims to reduce the number of vehicles needed for freight movement, thereby increasing the competitiveness of transport.

Among the most notable measures of the Ministerial Order is the increase in the Maximum Authorized Mass (MMA). For vehicle combinations with five or more axles dedicated to freight transport, the MMA is raised from 40 to 44 tonnes. This figure can be increased by up to 2 additional tonnes in the case of intermodal transport operations (which combine several modes of transport).

The use of these combinations is drastically simplified, eliminating the need to obtain prior authorization for their circulation. From now on, megatrucks can reach a maximum mass of up to 72 tonnes and a length of up to 32 meters. However, their circulation will be restricted to a specific network of routes approved by the road safety authority, following a report from the road owners on possible geometric or structural limitations. Outside this network, they must be divided.

Specific increases in MMA and maximum length are considered for the transport of roundwood (on journeys of up to 150 kilometers between the forest and the industry) and for the transport of indivisible longitudinal elements (such as metal bars or tubes), responding to demands from the forestry and metallurgical sectors.

Additionally, the maximum permitted height is extended to 4.5 meters for certain types of transport, specifically straw, live animals, and supply to industries located less than 50 kilometers away. This measure aligns their height limits with those already established for car carriers, cranes, and trucks transporting approved closed containers.

This relaxation of regulations aims to alleviate bureaucratic burdens for companies in the sector and, by allowing larger volumes per transport, contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions, decreasing the carbon footprint of road transport.

The Ministerial Order will come into effect the day after its publication in the BOE. However, the provisions regarding maximum axle masses and maximum authorized masses will come into effect three months after publication, except for tanker vehicles, which will come into effect six months later.