Chapter 3: How weight increase affects tachograph control
Although the tachograph does not directly measure vehicle weight, the maximum load influences driving dynamics. A fully loaded 44-ton truck requires longer braking distances and more rigorous rest time management to prevent driver fatigue.
To mitigate the increased fuel consumption and mechanical wear associated with higher weights, companies are increasingly enrolling their staff in an efficient driving and fuel-saving course, which provides the necessary skills to handle 44T combinations sustainably.
Furthermore, in the event of a motion sensor error during heavy-load transport, the suspicion of technical tampering increases during inspections. It is vital that the .DDD file is analyzed regularly to ensure there are no speed spikes or anomalies suggesting the vehicle is operating outside its legal capacities.
Chapter 4: Summary of Maximum Authorized Mass (MAM)
| VEHICLE TYPE / COMBINATION | AXLES | MAXIMUM MASS (MAM) |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid Truck | 2 Axles | 18 Tons |
| Rigid Truck | 3 Axles | 25/26 Tons |
| Road Train | 4 Axles | 36 Tons |
| Articulated (Standard 44) | 5 or more Axles | 44 Tons |
| Euro-Modular (Mega-Truck) | 6 or more Axles | 60 Tons |
Any excess over these masses carries penalties that can be consulted in our updated sanctions scale.
Chapter 5: The cost of exceeding 44 tons
Overweight is one of the most targeted offenses at roadside weighing stations. Responsibility does not always fall exclusively on the carrier; the loader also has a shared legal liability regarding the stowage and weighing of the vehicle.
Overweight fines are graduated according to the percentage of excess. A 5% excess may be considered minor, but exceeding 20% enters the territory of "Very Serious" infringements, which can exceed €4,000 and jeopardize the company's transport license.
44 tonnes is not one rule — it is several
The figure travels badly. Depending on where you are, 44 tonnes is the ordinary limit, an exception tied to a specific type of traffic, or not available at all. Getting this wrong is how a legally loaded combination becomes overloaded at a border.
Great Britain
The maximum gross weight is 44 tonnes for a six-axle articulated combination. Drop the sixth axle, or the road-friendly suspension, and the ceiling falls to 40 or 41 tonnes. Vehicles are limited to six axles, and anything above 44 tonnes moves under a Special Types General Order (STGO) — a separate regime, not an extension of the normal one.
Spain — changed in October 2025
Spain raised its general limit from 40 to 44 tonnes with effect from 23 October 2025, for combinations with five or more axles. The same reform put duo-trailers of up to 32 metres and 72 tonnes on a stable footing, but only on routes expressly authorised by the traffic authority.
Germany — still 40
Germany has not made the move. The general limit remains 40 tonnes; 44 exists only as an exception for combined transport, on the leg to or from the nearest suitable terminal.
The rule that matters when you cross a border
Weights and dimensions are governed by the law of the country you are driving in, not the country that loaded you. A combination loaded lawfully at 44 tonnes in one member state can be overloaded the moment it crosses into another where that limit does not apply.
Which produces a practical rule worth keeping: on international work, plan the load to the lowest limit on the route, not the highest at the point of loading. Rebalancing a trailer at a weighbridge is not a realistic option.
What extra mass changes for the driver
More weight is more energy to stop. A 44-tonne combination does not pull up where a 40-tonne one did, and braking imbalance between axles — already the leading cause of test failure — shows up sooner and worse under the extra load.
And overloading is not simply a fine. Where it is detected in the course of the journey, the vehicle is immobilised until the cause is removed, which usually means finding somewhere to put the surplus before anyone goes anywhere.
Efficiency under legal control
The adoption of 44 tons is a golden opportunity to improve profitability, but it requires flawless technical and documentary control. At TachoTools, we help companies manage this transition by ensuring their tachograph data reflects impeccable operations. Do not let increased load become an increased legal risk; use our .DDD file analysis technology to shield your business.