Netherlands to test 32-metre lorries with 360-degree cameras this year

The first Super EcoCombi (SEC) is expected to be tested on Dutch roads in December as part of a pre-test to examine how the longer vehicle combination performs in traffic and how other road users respond.

The SEC, also known as EMS2, consists of a tractor with two 13.60-metre trailers connected via a dolly. With a total length of up to 32 metres and a maximum weight of 72 tonnes, it can carry the same load as two standard 16.5-metre tractor–semitrailer combinations. The Dutch transport association TLN says the concept could help reduce driver shortages, cut CO₂ emissions and improve vehicle efficiency.

The pre-test will be carried out under the leadership of TNO on the route Rotterdam–Moerdijk–Venlo and is scheduled to last around one month. The vehicle will be fitted with 360-degree cameras to monitor behaviour on the road, with results compared to a conventional tractor–semitrailer. Before it can enter service, the SEC must undergo testing at the RDW facility in October or November.

If the trial is successful, preparations will begin in 2026 for a pilot involving between five and ten SECs from different companies operating on multiple routes. Conditions such as intelligent access and decoupling points are expected to be included, and interested companies will be able to apply at a later stage.

The project is supported by a core team including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat, the Port of Rotterdam, evofenedex, RDW, RAI Vereniging and TLN. According to the association, “all signals now seem to be green” after years of preparatory work since the initiative began in 2019.

A set of safety requirements has also been established for the pre-test. These include a maximum of three articulation points, adequate axle pressure on driven axles, a blind spot information system, minimum acceleration performance and compliance with swept path rules applied to long heavy vehicles. The framework is described as a starting point that may later be developed into a permanent regulatory system.

The SEC configuration selected for the trial will consist of a 6×2 tractor with a steered pusher axle, a three-axle front trailer with a lift and steered axle, a two-axle dolly with steering, and a three-axle rigid rear trailer. Vehicles from several manufacturers will be used.

The project is financed under the Multi-year Programme Truck Levy Return Scheme 2026–2030. The truck levy is scheduled to enter into force on 1 July 2026, with its net proceeds allocated to measures aimed at more sustainable and efficient freight transport.

The SEC concept is not new in Europe: thousands are already in operation in Finland and Sweden, and trials are also under way in Germany. In Spain, the vehicles have been described as “very successful”.