All too many foreign trucks have too bad tires that cannot handle Swedish winter road conditions.
This is the opinion of representatives of the haulage industry, who now want to see more checks on the trucks that drive into Sweden.
– Many people take a chance on good weather and when they come to Sweden, this becomes a tangible problem, says Ulric Långberg, head of social policy at Sweden’s haulage company.
A large part of the trucks that got stuck on the E22 were foreign and although it has not been established what type of tires were on, for a long time there has been criticism that foreign trucks do not have the right winter tires when they drive into Sweden.
– When it does snow properly, it often comes to a standstill, not infrequently because a foreign-registered truck has tires that are too bad. And it is enough that it is one who gets stopped, then everyone who comes after is also stuck, says Ulric Långberg, head of social policy at Sweden’s haulage company.
The law ineffective
Since 2019, it is the law that trucks must have winter tires on all wheels in winter road conditions between December 1 and March 31, and this also applies to foreign trucks. But as long as not enough checks are carried out, the law is largely ineffective, Ulric Långberg believes.
– If it rains when they enter Sweden and it snows when they get to Jönköping, it is not illegal to have summer tires until you get to Jönköping. Between December and March you can almost count on it snowing somewhere in the country and the fact that there is no requirement for winter tires in other than winter road conditions is a trick, says Ulric Långberg.
Increased controls
He proposes requirements for winter tires throughout the period, as well as increased checks on the trucks that drive into the country.
– We would need help from customs or others who see when these cars drive into the country. We also believe that demands should be placed on those who buy the transports – that they make sure that the cars are equipped for the Nordic climate, says Ulric Långberg.