A variety of traffic conditions were tested, ranging from platooning and manoeuvring at the logistics centre to their handling on 2+2 roads, junctions and roundabouts.
Tallinn University of Applied Sciences will also analyse the traffic safety of EMS vehicles, the load capacity of roads and bridges and suitable routes on behalf of the Transport Administration. The study will be completed by mid-May.
An EMS is longer and heavier than a usual truck, with a length of up to 25.25 metres and a gross weight of up to 60 tonnes. The introduction of such vehicles could improve the efficiency of Estonia’s road transport, reduce emissions and help alleviate the shortage of drivers.
Johann Peetre, the head of the Mobility Planning Department at the Estonian Transport Administration, says the test runs and analyses will provide a clearer picture of whether and how EMS trucks can be safely used on Estonian roads. “We need to assess their impact on traffic safety, infrastructure and the environment in order to make a considered proposal to the Ministry of Climate as to whether to allow them,” he explained.
Herkki Kitsing, the head of the Estonian Logistics and Freight Forwarding Association, says that Wednesday's test drive went smoothly and that the sector is hopeful that allowing EMS on Estonian roads will bring positive results in terms of efficiency, without compromising on safety.
The analysis commissioned by the Transport Administration will clarify whether additional speed limits for EMS trucks should be introduced on 1+1 and 2+1 roads, whether overtaking bans would be necessary and what other measures would help to ensure safety. It will also look at the potential positive effects of EMS trucks, such as reducing the number of road accidents compared to conventional trucks. The results of the study, which was launched in 2024 and is continuing in 2025, will be used as input for decisions on the authorisation of EMS vehicles on Estonian roads.
Photos from the test drive, a map of the route and an explanatory diagram of the EMS vehicles can be found here.
Author of a photos: Sven Kreek, Tallinna Tehnikakõrgkool
