The change applies mainly to six- and seven-axle truck-and-trailer combinations and is intended to improve transport efficiency while accommodating the additional weight of alternative drivetrains, according to the Norwegian government.
Under the revised rules, truck combinations that are currently limited to 50 tonnes will be allowed to operate at higher gross weights, depending on the vehicle’s drivetrain:
- Diesel and other fossil-fuel trucks: up to 54–55 tonnes
- Biogas-powered trucks: up to 55–56 tonnes
- Zero-emission trucks (including battery-electric): up to 56 tonnes
The higher limits mainly apply to 3+3 and 4+3 axle configurations, which are common in long-distance and high-capacity freight operations.
The new weight limits will apply only on roads that can safely accommodate heavier vehicles. According to the Norwegian authorities, this includes:
- almost the entire national road network
- around 60% of county roads
- approximately 20% of municipal roads
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) assessed infrastructure capacity as part of the process.
Industry consultation and expected impact
The changes follow a public consultation, during which the transport industry largely supported higher national weight limits. Operators have long argued that higher payloads would reduce the number of trips required and improve cost efficiency.
During the consultation, analysis from Norway’s Transport Economics Institute suggested that heavier truck combinations could lead to fewer vehicle kilometres travelled and lower emissions from road freight.
The government has explicitly linked the higher weight limits to the rollout of zero-emission and biogas trucks, which typically have lower payload capacity due to heavier batteries or fuel systems.
By allowing higher gross weights for these vehicles, the authorities aim to ensure that operators switching away from diesel do not face a competitive disadvantage in terms of usable payload.
Statens vegvesen has been tasked with continuing its work on possible future adjustments to weight limits for other vehicle categories. Any further changes would be subject to additional analysis and consultation.
