Sweden is a country in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders Norway to the west; Finland to the northeast; and the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia to the south and east. At 450,295 km2, Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the fifth largest in Europe. It has a population of circa 10.4 million.
Abnormal Road Movements
Øresund Bridge – Particularly long, wide or heavy vehicles are permitted to cross the Øresund Bridge. However, special prices and conditions, including time windows, apply as to when such transport can take place. Please note that vehicles higher than 4.5 metres or wider than 7 metres are not permitted to cross the Øresund Bridge.
For more detailed information: www.oresundsbron.com/en/business/prices/special-transport
Storebælt Bridge – If you plan to cross the Storebælt Bridge with special transport, there are a number of guidelines that you must take into account. Storebælt (storebaelt.dk)
Vehicles wider than 3.3 metres – You must call the Storebælt Bridge’s control room on +45 58 30 30 50 no less than two hours before crossing the bridge.
Vehicles larger than bridge class 100 and/or wider than 4.5 metres, as well as slow vehicles travelling at less than 50 km/h.
You must have a permit from the police and bring this permit with you when using the Storebælt crossing. Together with the police permit, you will requires a letter from Storebælt that contains conditions for using the Storebælt crossing.
All abnormal load operators will require a keeper’s certificate to prove ownership of the trailer, which must be carried as part of the vehicle documents at all times.
For further information concerning Ab-Loads movements, visit Transport Styrelsen
For further information Sweden (transportoversize.eu)
EU Directive – Within the European Union (EC), the Council Directive 96/53/EC gives information about the permissible dimensions and weights for road vehicles in international traffic. Vehicle combinations (trucks with ordinary trailers or semi-trailers) which comply with the criteria specified here may travel on roads within the EU without a special permit. The size and weight limits set by the Council Directive are summarised in the tables at the link here
Carriage of Dangerous Goods
Main Competent Authority
Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)
651 81 Karlstad
Sweden
Tel: +46 (0) 771 240 240
Fax: +46 (0) 10 240 5600
E-mail: registrator@msb.se
Website: www.msb.se
Class 7
Swedish Radiation Safety Authority
SE-171 16 Stockholm
Tel: +46 8 799 40 00 (switchboard)
Fax: +46 8 799 40 10
Notification according to 1.9.4
Sweden notified the following restrictions:
Restrictions according to section 1.9.3
a): Transport of dangerous goods across rivers and fjords by ferry in Sweden
Notification according to 1.9.5 (Tunnel restrictions)
Tunnel restrictions, updated on 5 February 2021: see below
In Sweden, the following tunnels have restrictions for the passage of vehicles carrying dangerous loads.
For further information pertaining to the carriage of Dangerous Goods in Sweden, please visit the MSB website (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency).
If you are shipping dangerous goods, you must also complete a dangerous goods declaration. See guidance on moving dangerous goods
Heavy Goods Vehicles Road Tolls
In Sweden, there are two different kinds of road toll schemes, Infrastructure charge and Congestions tax.
Both schemes use fixed gantries and the vehicles passing are identified through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
Infrastructure charge
Vehicles registered in Sweden and vehicles registered abroad must pay the bridge tolls in Motala and Sundsvall.
From 1 February 2015, vehicles registered in Sweden and vehicles registered abroad must pay the bridge tolls in Motala and Sundsvall.
The bridge tolls are infrastructure charges, which are charged to part-finance the construction of a new road, tunnel or mountain pass. That way the people who use the infrastructure help to pay for it.
The payment system is completely automatic. When you drive past a control point on the approach to the bridge, this is registered and a payment slip is sent to the owner of the vehicle.
If the vehicle is registered abroad, the Swedish Transport Agency has entrusted a notification partner to identify the owner of the vehicle, send out invoices to, and obtain payments from, the owner of the vehicle via EPASS24
Congestion taxes
In Sweden, there is a system of congestion taxes in Stockholm and Gothenburg. The tax applies to vehicles registered in and outside of Sweden.
Hours and amounts for congestion taxes
Vehicles registered abroad
Concerning vehicles registered abroad, the Swedish Transport Agency has entrusted a notification partner to identify the vehicle owners, send them invoices and receive payments via EPASS24
Cars, Lorries and buses are all liable to congestion tax.
Weekend and public holiday Driving Bans
There are no general weekend or public holiday driving bans as such in Sweden.
Driver & Vehicle Documentation
Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.
Permits
Check which international road haulage permits you need.
Check which international road haulage permits you need – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Find out how to apply for bilateral international road haulage permits and the rules you have to follow at the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-permits-for-some-non-eu-countries
To find out more about ECMT Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ecmt-international-road-haulage-permits
To find out more about ECMT International Removal Permits, please visit the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-road-haulage-removal-permits
Speed Limits for HGV’s over 3.5t
The following speed limits are applicable to HGVs:
Drink Driving
The legal limit is 0.02% BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) for professional drivers, penalties for driving under the influence are strict.
Rules of the road in Sweden
While driving in Sweden you must:
Items you should not take into Sweden
Be aware that you cannot take the following with you:
You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘Phytosanitary certificate’:
Seat belts
Seat belt must be worn at all times
In an emergency
112 – You can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you are visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.
Low Emission Zones
A number of regions have low emission zones for Lorries. These LEZs also affect the cities within those regions. For further information on LEZ’s
Winter tyres
If you are travelling to or through Sweden with a vehicle such as a passenger car or heavy vehicle, you need to make sure that the tyres on your vehicle are right. During the winter, the following rules apply:
Requirements regarding winter tyres December 1st to March 31st
During the period from 1 December to 31 March, there are special requirements in Sweden on which type of tyre a certain vehicle is to have when there are winter conditions on the road. These requirements apply to both light and heavy vehicles, as well as to vehicles registered in Sweden and abroad.
The road conditions are considered wintry when there is snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road. The Swedish Police decides whether there are wintry conditions on a certain road.
Transport Organisation
Swedish Road Haulage Association (Sveriges Akeriföretag)
Kungsgatan 33
111 56 Stockholm
Box 7248, 103 89 Stockholm
Tel: +46 (0)10-510 54 00
Email: info@akeri.se
Web: https://www.akeri.se/sv/swedish-association-road-transport-companies
British Embassy
Skarpögatan 6-8
Box 27819
115 93 Stockholm
Sweden
Telephone: +46 (0)8 671 30 00 / +44 1908 51 6666
