In spring 2012 the trial with the first of 400 25.25 m long HGVs will be launched. Despite strong opposition, the HGVs will now drive for the next 5 years along motorways on specified routes. Only seven Federal States have given their consent. These are Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Saxony, Thuringia, Hessen and Bavaria. Saxony-Anhalt is tolerating the test, but is opening up only a small portion of the dense motorway network.

The States are not obliged to take part in the test. Of course, the Federal Government could take over the motorways, but cooperation is anticipated. Critics fear that the HGVs, which are 6.50 m longer than normal, will represent a great danger to road users. Just overtaking them becomes more risky because of their length.

Therefore, only drivers who have held their driving licence for at least 5 years and who have no more than 3 penalty points on it will be employed for these vehicles. Moreover, despite their size the HGVs will not exceed the current maximum weight of 44 metric tons.