18. 1. 79 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 16/3 
II 
(Preparatory  Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the weights  and  certain  other  characteristics  (not 
including  dimensions)  of road  vehicles  used  for the carriage  of goods 
(Submitted  by  the Commission  to the Council  on 30 December  1978) 
THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES, 
Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community,  and  in particular 
Article  75 thereof, 
Having  regard  to the proposal  from  the Commission, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  of the  European 
Parliament, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  of the  Economic  and 
Social  Committee, 
Whereas  it is necessary,  in the  framework  of the 
common  transport  policy,  to establish  maximum 
standards  for the weights  and  other  characteristics  of 
certain  vehicles  which  will  permit  these  vehicles  to be 
used  in every  Member  State; 
Whereas  the  establishment  of maximum  limits  for 
vehicle  weight  will  also  permit  the development  of a 
more  homogeneous  market  for heavy  motor  vehicles; 
Whereas  it is desirable  that  motor  vehicles  which  are 
to be permitted  free  circulation  in the  Community 
should  conform  to the  latest  Community  standards 
on noise,  emissions,  steering  and  braking; 
Whereas  the requirements  of safety  or the protection 
of the infrastructure  or the environment  may  necessi-
tate Member  States'  excluding  the  heavier  motor vehicles  from  certain  routes  or structures  or restrict-
ing the  carriage  of dangerous  goods  to certain 
vehicles, 
HAS  ADOPTED  THIS  DIRECTIVE: 
Article  1 
This  Directive  applies  to the  weights  and  certain 
other  characteristics  (not  including  dimensions)  of the 
goods  vehicles  and  trailers  referred  to in Annex  I. 
These  vehicles  are  intended  to be used  on the  road 
and have  at least  four  wheels,  a maximum  laden 
weight  exceeding  3-5  tonnes  and  a maximum  design 
speed  exceeding  25 km/h. 
Article  2 
In this  Directive: 
— 'combined  vehicle'  means  either  a rigid  motor 
vehicle  coupled  to a drawbar  trailer  or  an 
articulated  vehicle  consisting  of a tractive  unit 
coupled  to a semi-trailer, 
— 'motor  vehicle'  means  either  a rigid  motor  vehicle 
or a tractive  unit  for an articulated  vehicle. 
Article  3 
Member  States  shall  not  refuse  or prohibit  the  sale, 
the registration,  the putting  into  circulation  or the use 
of vehicles  on grounds  relating  to the  characteristics 
No C 16/4 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 18. 1. 79 
dealt  with  in this  Directive  and  the  Annexes  hereto  if 
the vehicles  conform  with  the  requirements  specified 
herein. 
Article  4 
1. To  conform  with  this  Directive: 
(a) a vehicle  must  be equipped  in an easily  accessible 
position  with  a plate  on which  are entered: 
(i) the  unladen  weight  of the vehicle, 
(ii) the  maximum  authorized  weight  of the 
vehicle, 
(iii) the  maximum  weight  for  each  axle  of the 
vehicle, 
(iv) a symbol  identifying  the vehicle  as being  in 
conformity  with  this  Directive, 
(v) for  motor  vehicles  only,  the maximum  train 
weight  if  greater  than  the  maximum 
authorized  weight  in (ii) above; 
(b) the  maximum  authorized  weight,  the  maximum 
weight  for  each  axle  and  the  maximum  train 
weight  entered  on the  plate  shall  not  exceed  the 
limits  specified  in Annexes  I and  II. 
2. On  the  basis  of  a proposal  from  the 
Commission,  the  Council  shall,  before  1 January 
1980,  adopt  measures  on  the  form  of the  plate 
referred  to in this  Article. 
Article  5 
1. A  vehicle  when  in use  shall  be regarded  as 
conforming  with  this  Directive  if: 
(a) the  total  laden  weight  of the  vehicle  does  not 
exceed  the  maximum  authorized  weight  entered 
on the plate; 
(b) the  total  laden  weight  of a combined  vehicle  does 
not exceed  the limits  specified  in Annex  I; 
(c) no  axle  weight  exceeds  the  limit  entered  on the 
plate  by more  than  5 %; 
(d) the  weight  borne  by the  driving  axle  or driving 
axles  of a vehicle  or combined  vehicle  is not  less than  20  % of the  total  laden  weight  of the 
vehicle  or combined  vehicle; 
(e) the  distance  between  the  centres  of the  rear  axle 
of the  motor  vehicle  and  the  front  axle  of any 
trailer  or  semi-trailer  is not  less  than  three 
metres. 
2. After  consulting  the  Commission,  a Member 
State  may  fix the ratio  specified  in paragraph  1 (d) at 
up to 25 % for vehicles  used  on its territory. 
Article  6 
Member  States  shall  take  the  necessary  measures  to 
ensure  that  any  vehicle  fitted  with  a plate  as specified 
in Article  4 conforms  with  the technical  provisions  of 
the Community  Directives  on type  approval  listed  in 
Annex  III. 
Article  7 
The Member  States  may,  after  consulting  the 
Commission  on the  general  nature  of the  measures 
proposed: 
(a) derogate  from  the  provisions  of Article  3 in the 
case of  vehicles  used  for  the  carriage  of 
dangerous  goods; 
(b) exclude  vehicles  conforming  to this  Directive 
from  certain  routes  or structures  for  reasons  of 
safety  or of protection  of the infrastructure  or the 
environment.  Such  measures  shall  apply  to all 
vehicles  with  the  same  weight  or  other 
characteristics. 
Article  8 
1. The  Member  States  shall,  after  consulting  the 
Commission,  adopt  the  measures  necessary  to ensure 
compliance  with  this  Directive  within  18  months 
from  its notification  and  shall  forthwith  inform  the 
Commission  thereof. 
2. They  shall  apply  such  measures  from  1 January 
1983. 
Article  9 
This  Directive  is addressed  to the Member  States. 
18. 1. 79 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities  No  C 16/5 
ANNEX  I 
MAXIMUM  WEIGHTS  OF VEHICLES  AND  COMBINED  VEHICLES 
1. Maximum  authorized  weight  of a vehicle 
1.1. Rigid  motor  vehicles 
— vehicle  with  three  axles 
— vehicles  with  four  axles  (two  steered  axles) 
1.2. Vehicles  forming  part  of a combined  vehicle 
— motor  vehicle  with  two  axles 
— motor  vehicle  with  three  axles 
— trailer  with  two  axles 
— trailer  with  three  axles 
— semi-trailer  (axle  loading): 
— with  two  axles 
— with  three  axles 
1.3. Combined  vehicles  (articulated  vehicles  and  road  trains) 
— motor  vehicle  with  two  axles  + trailer  or semi-trailer: 
— with  two  axles 
— with  three  axles 
— motor  vehicle  with  three  axles  + trailer  or semi-trailer: 
— with  two  axles 
— with  three  axles 24 tonnes, 
30 tonnes. 
17 tonnes, 
24 tonnes, 
18 tonnes, 
24 tonnes, 
18 tonnes, 
24 tonnes. 
35 tonnes, 
40 tonnes, 
42 tonnes, 
44 tonnes. 
2. Maximum  train  weight  of a motor  vehicle 
The maximum  train  weight  entered  on the plate  of a motor  vehicle  designed  to tow  a trailer 
or a semi-trailer  shall  be determined  by the competent  authorities  of the  Member  States 
after  consulting  the manufacturer  and  taking  account  of all appropriate  factors  including 
braking,  stability  and  available  power.  The  maximum  train  weight  in tonnes  shall  not exceed 
one fifth  of the available  power  of the engine  measured  in kilowatts. 
3. Maximum  weight  technically  admissible 
Where  the vehicle  is not constructed  to carry  the maximum  authorized  weight  specified  in 
Section  1 of this  Annex,  or where  the axle  spacing  could  cause  overloading  of bridges,  the 
maximum  authorized  weight  shown  on the  plate  specified  in Article  4 shall  be reduced 
accordingly. 
No C 16/6 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 18. 1. 79 
ANNEX  II 
AXLE  SPACINGS  AND  MAXIMUM  WEIGHT  PER  AXLE 
1. The  maximum  axle  weight  of the sole  driving  axle  of a combined  vehicle  shall  not exceed 
11 tonnes. 
2. The  maximum  axle  weight  of any other  single  axle  shall  not exceed  10 tonnes. 
3. Where  the axle  spacing  is less than  two  metres,  the sum  of the maximum  axle  weights  of a 
tandem  axle  shall  not exceed  18 tonnes. 
4. The  sum  of the axle  weights  of a tri-axle  shall  not exceed  24 tonnes. 
5. The  maximum  axle  spacing  of a tri-axle  shall  not exceed  2.8 metres. 
6. The  competent  authorities  in the Member  States  may  fix lower  limits  for the axle  weights  of 
steered  axles  or those  fitted  with  single  or super-single  tyres,  or for other  axles  where  the 
vehicle  is unsuitable  for the full axle  weight  to be permitted. 
ANNEX  III 
Community  type-approval  legislation  to which  vehicles  authorized  by this Directive,  whether  new 
or already  in service,  shall  conform 
1. NOISE 
The permissible  sound  level  and the exhaust  system  motor  vehicles: 
Directive Reference 
Council  Directive  70/157/EEC 
Commission  Directive  73/350/EEC 
Council  Directive  77/212/EEC OJ No L 42, 23. 2. 1970,  p. 16 
OJ No L 321,  22. 11. 1973,  p. 33 
OJ No L 66, 12. 3. 1977,  p. 33 
EMISSIONS 
(a) Measures  to be taken  against  air pollution  by gases  from  positive  ignition  engines  of motor 
vehicles: 
Directive Reference 
Council  Directive  70/220/EEC 
Council  Directive  74/290/EEC 
Commission  Directive  77/102/EEC 
Commission  Directive  78/665/EEC OJ No L 76, 6. 4. 1970,  p. 23 
OJ No L 159,  15. 6. 1974,  p. 61 
OJ No L 32, 3. 2. 1977,  p. 32 
OJ No L 223,  14. 8. 1978,  p. 48 
18. 1. 79 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 16/7 
(b) Measures  to be taken  against  the  emission  of pollutants  from  diesel  engines  for use  in 
motor  vehicles: 
Directive Reference 
Council  Directive  72/306/EEC 
Corrigendum OJ No L 190,  20. 8. 1972,  p. 1 
OJ No  L 215,  6. 8. 1974,  p. 20 
3. BRAKING 
Braking  devices  of certain  categories  of motor  vehicles  and  their  trailers: 
Directive Reference 
Council  Directive  71/320/EEC 
Commission  Directive  74/132/EEC 
Commission  Directive  75/524/EEC OJ No L 202,  6. 9. 1971,  p. 37 
OJ No L 74, 19. 3. 1974,  p. 7 
OJ No L 236,  8. 9. 1975,  p. 3 
STEERING 
Steering  equipment  for motor  vehicles  and  their  trailers: 
Directive Reference 
Council  Directi  ve 70/311/EEC OJ No L 133,  18. 6. 1970,  p. 10