Press Release: Forty-five-foot containers can continue circulating on European roads

Member States may still allow the circulation of forty-five-foot containers in national road transport. A 1996 Council Directive, laying down the rules for weights and dimensions in road transport, contains a ten year transition period that has so far allowed the carriage of forty-five-foot containers. The transition period will terminate at the end of 2006, which has left stakeholders worried that this could lead to a total ban of forty-five foot containers from road transport. However, this will not be the case, in particular for the road legs of intermodal transport operations.

ESO: Background information: Directive 2002/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 February 2002 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic http://www.europeansources.info/record/directive-2002-7-ec-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-of-18-february-2002-amending-council-directive-96-53-ec-laying-down-for-certain-road-vehicles-circulating-within-the-community-the-max/

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