New weight and dimension rules from 2026 – and 58 tons from 2027
How the Road Authority's new regulation changes the framework for heavy vehicles
The rules for how much a vehicle can weigh and how large it can be are constantly changing as roads, bridges and transport needs develop. The Danish Road Authority has adopted a new regulation on the maximum width, length, height, weight and axle load of vehicles, which came into force on 1 January 2026, and which is relevant for anyone working with heavy vehicles.
§What changes?
The new regulation raises the permitted total weight for several vehicle types. Two-axle trucks have their maximum total weight raised from 18 to 20 tonnes, while three-axle trucks go from 26 to 28 tonnes. Five-axle trucks with an axle distance between 7.10 and 7.39 metres can from now on be approved for 41 tonnes total weight. The maximum height for buses, trucks, tractors, motor equipment and trailers is also raised to 4.20 metres — but this change only takes effect from 1 January 2027.
§56 til 58 tons fra 2027
For the heaviest combinations — vehicles with seven or more axles — the allowed total weight increases from the current 56 tonnes (valid since 2024) to 58 tonnes but this part of the change only takes effect on 1 January 2027 and applies only to those configurations and approvals that are covered. It gives the transport industry the opportunity to load more goods per trip on the heaviest articulated lorries which can reduce the number of trips for the same amount of goods.
§Why the rules change
The purpose of the new rules is among other things to make heavy road transport more efficient by allowing fewer and heavier trips to replace more light trips and to align Danish rules with developments in vehicle technology and international standards. The changes are part of a broader revision of the dimension regulation which the Road Authority has carried out to support more efficient heavy road transport.
| Vehicle type | New limit |
|---|---|
| Two-axle truck | 20 tonnes (previously 18 tonnes) |
| Three-axle truck | 28 tonnes (previously 26 tonnes) |
| Five-axle truck (7.10–7.39 m wheelbase) | 41 tonnes total weight |
| Vehicle with 7+ axles | 58 tons fra 2027 (tidligere 56 tons) |
| Maximum height | 4,20 meter (fra 1/1-2027) |
As a truck mechanic it is not your responsibility to know every detail of the legislation by heart but you should know where the boundaries lie and that a vehicle's papers and approval must always match the condition it is in — especially when weight limits change.