Ukraine Launches the Use of Long Combination Vehicles (LCVs)

On 5 June 2026, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine published the following information in the “News” section of its official website:

“On the initiative of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Government has approved the launch of a pilot project allowing the operation of long combination vehicles (LCVs) on the Kyiv–Odesa and Odesa–Kyiv routes.

A long combination vehicle is a freight transport unit consisting of a tractor unit and several consecutively connected trailers or semi-trailers.

Thanks to their increased length and cargo capacity, such vehicles can transport significantly larger volumes of freight in a single trip compared to conventional trucks. At the same time, the negative impact on road surfaces is reduced due to a more efficient distribution of axle loads.

Similar transport solutions are already used in a number of countries, including Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as a tool for improving logistics efficiency, preserving road infrastructure, and reducing transport costs.

The resolution provides for the implementation of a pilot project involving the use of modern freight transport units with multiple connected trailers for cargo transportation.

The objective of the project is to assess the feasibility of using more efficient freight transport solutions that are already widely applied in several European countries.

‘The launch of this pilot project is a response to the needs of Ukrainian businesses and a logical step towards integrating our transport system into the European market. Long combination vehicles have been successfully used in several EU countries for many years and have proven their effectiveness for logistics, the economy, and the preservation of road infrastructure. Importantly, the project will be implemented strictly in compliance with safety requirements and on the basis of appropriate technical route assessments,’ said Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, Oleksii Kuleba.

Currently, Ukrainian legislation limits the use of such vehicles due to weight-related regulatory requirements. At the same time, modern long combination vehicles make it possible to transport larger cargo volumes in a single trip while ensuring a more even distribution of loads on road infrastructure.

Within the framework of the pilot project, the operation of such vehicles will be permitted only under special authorisations and following the completion of the necessary technical safety assessments of the routes.

The project is expected to generate a number of positive outcomes. For the logistics sector, these include lower transportation, fuel, and vehicle maintenance costs.

For road infrastructure, benefits include more efficient axle load distribution and a reduction in road wear and damage.

In addition, the project is expected to have positive environmental effects, as reducing the number of trips should lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The pilot project will be implemented over a period of two years from the date the resolution enters into force.

Its results will serve as the basis for further assessment of the possibility of introducing such transport solutions on other logistics routes across Ukraine.”

Photo source: https://cfts.org.ua/news/2026/06/05/v_ukrani_zapuskayut_dovgomirni_trilankovi_avtopozdi_na_marshruti_kiv_odesa_87005