According to new figures from ITD, the Danish association representing road haulage companies, Denmark now has 1,763 trucks and trailer units approved for use in longer vehicle combinations. This represents an increase of around 10 per cent compared with the previous year, based on data from the national vehicle register.
The vehicles include modular truck combinations and double trailer combinations up to 34 metres long. These are designed to carry more cargo per trip than standard trucks, helping operators reduce the number of journeys needed.
In practical terms, this can lead to lower fuel consumption, reduced CO₂ emissions and less traffic on busy roads. The growing number of approved vehicles suggests there is strong interest from hauliers in using longer and more efficient truck combinations.
However, ITD says that regulatory and infrastructure constraints are preventing these benefits from being fully realised.
Road network remains very limited
While the number of extra-long trucks is increasing, the road network on which double trailer combinations are allowed remains extremely restricted. At present, these vehicles are mainly permitted on the Aarhus–Høje Taastrup–Øresund Bridge corridor.
This means that, in practice, only a small number of transport companies can use double trailer trucks, and only on limited parts of their operations. As a result, the vehicles often cannot be deployed where they would deliver the greatest efficiency gains.
According to ITD’s driving technology expert Steffen Johannsen, the figures show that hauliers are willing to invest in more efficient and lower-emission solutions, but current rules make their use unnecessarily complex and expensive.
Many operators, he says, would like to replace existing modular truck combinations with double trailer trucks, which can carry more cargo. Without wider road access, however, this shift remains difficult.
Denmark vs Sweden
Denmark introduced a trial scheme for double trailer trucks on 1 January 2024, but the approved road network still covers only a few hundred kilometres. By comparison, Sweden, which opened its network to double trailer trucks one month earlier, has already authorised more than 6,000 kilometres of roads.
One reason for this difference is that Sweden allows alternative double trailer designs that require less space when turning. These vehicles are easier to integrate into existing roads, but are not currently permitted under Denmark’s trial scheme.
Possible changes to the rules
Danish transport minister Thomas Danielsen has previously said that he is working on introducing Swedish standards for double trailer trucks alongside the Danish model.
According to ITD, aligning the rules more closely with Sweden could reduce the need for costly route modifications and allow transport companies to use their vehicles more efficiently. The organisation notes that many Danish hauliers already operate double trailer trucks built to Swedish specifications, but cannot currently use them fully under Danish regulations.
