Intermodal transport

Marco Polo

Overview

Exercise to identify bottlenecks in Freight Transport Logistics

Research, Demonstration and Co-ordination Activities

Public consultations

Documentation

Brochure EUROPEAN FREIGHT TRANSPORT Modern logistics solutions for competitiveness and sustainability

Continuous carriage of 45' containers in national road transport

	Commission Staff Working Document on the continuous carriage of 45' containers in national road transport SEC(2006) 1581 of 27.11.2006
-	Press release Forty-five-foot containers can continue circulating on European roads,  01/12/2006

Article 4(6) of Directive 96/53/EC on weights and dimensions in road transport currently allows 45' containers to circulate in national transport operations. However, the 10-year transitional period granted under this Article for vehicles registered or put into circulation before the implementation of the Directive will end on 31.12.2006. There is uncertainty amongst stakeholders whether the carriage of 45' containers can continue in national road transport after this deadline.

The Commission services have compiled the attached Commission Staff Working Document to explain and interpret the legal situation.

The Working Document states that Articles 4(3) (special permits) and/or 4(4) (modular concept) can be applied to 45' containers, thereby allowing them to continue circulating, in national transport operations, after 31.12.2006. It is up to each Member State to apply the relevant Articles. The application of Article 4(4) also requires that the Commission is informed of the measures taken pursuant to it.

These solutions offer a good basis for promoting intermodality. Rail, short sea shipping and inland waterway transport can continue to be used for the carriage of 45' containers over longer distances between Member States. The first and final legs of these intermodal operations can then be carried out nationally by road, over shorter distances, in full compliance with co-modality.