High Capacity Transport (HCT)
From the first of December 2023, 34.5-meter-long trucks may drive on parts of Sweden's roads.
The introduction of longer vehicles is an issue that has been investigated for almost 15 years and 10 years ago, in 2012 started the High Capacity Transport (HCT)-project on CLOSER. CLOSER has since been the hub for the research conducted within the program.
The journey continues, now the road network must be able to carry the trucks. Something Sweden's municipalities are responsible for.
An increased use of HCT vehicles would increase energy efficiency and thereby reduce CO2 emissions and increase the capacity of the infrastructure system. CLOSER is responsible for an R&D program called HCT (High Capacity Transport) where the goal is to be able to propose a regulatory framework that makes it possible to introduce longer and heavier vehicles on parts of the Swedish road network.
The definition of HCT is that it is longer and / or heavier than current regulations allow.
CLOSER is responsible for running the HCT program and it includes 10 work packages according to the figure below. CLOSER is also responsible for the work package; International cooperation. A Nordic HCT conference is arranged annually and an Annual Report is also published.
The desire for additional state connection roads
There is still the possibility of supplementing with more state connection roads.
The Swedish Transport Administration continues to conduct dialogue with municipalities in connection with the designated road network during the autumn of 2023.
Requests and needs for additional state connection roads need to be received by the Swedish Transport Administration by 31 December 2023 at the latest. The additional state roads recorded during the autumn can hopefully be included in the road network on 1 July 2024.
Vehicle requirements
For it to be possible for a road operator, the Swedish Transport Administration or a municipality, to prescribe to allow long trucks (vehicle trains) up to 34.5 meters, it is also required that there are vehicle requirements decided, something that the Swedish Transport Agency is responsible for. The vehicle requirements have been under review in the spring of 2023 and came into force on 15 September 2023. See also link below for more information on the Swedish Transport Agency's vehicle requirements.
The innovation journey for HCT
Take part in the innovation journey for the HCT project where several actors played and still play a major role in the development and implementation of HCT on the Swedish roads. You can do this either in video format or in report format.
The innovation work continues
HCT Duo Demo
Projects within the HCT program implemented.
In the Duo2 project, two parallel pilots are underway between Gothenburg and Malmö with the goal of reducing vehicle fuel consumption by up to 20%.
Do you want to know more about Duo2?
What are the effects of allowing HCT for transport to/from combi terminals?
The study was initiated by CLOSER and was carried out as a continuation of the work that CLOSER and the Swedish Transport Administration have jointly carried out within the framework of the HCT programme .
The work analyzed the potential effects regarding transport efficiency, environment and costs that could arise if HCT was used to a greater extent for transport to and from intermodal railway terminals. Furthermore, it was studied what possible obstacles there are to introducing HCT transport in Sweden on a wider front. The work also included extensive monitoring of the environment in which the majority of combi terminal owners/operators, transporters and experts within the academy were interviewed.
The results of the study show great potential effects of HCT in the form of reduced emissions and reduced transport costs by up to 15%.
News on HCT
Event
Nordic HCT Conference 2023
Nordic HCT conference 2024
To control the HCT program, we have a working group that convenes four meetings annually in which both those responsible for each work package and other members of CLOSER participate.
We have also developed a roadmap for HCT with a series of measures to be implemented in the coming years.