Train combinations
Driving train combinations with the classes C1E, BE, and the "old" class 3
The EU driver's license directive generally takes the towing vehicle and trailer separately into consideration for the trailer combinations. In this respect, the required driver's license, support, vertical, and trailer loads are not taken into consideration.
Therefore, two cases are distinguished:
- Driver's license holders of C1 and C1E classes only
- C1 and C1E driver's license holders and also class CE (with key number 79); transfer of old class 3
C1E class holders
Example of lorry with semi-mounted trailer
The following trailer combinations can be driven with the C1E class:
C1 class towing vehicle
(Up to max. 7.5 t permissible towing weight = zGM) + trailer over 0.75 t zGM (central axle trailer/ multiple axle trailer / semi-trailer / without restriction on 3 axles only)
However, with 2 important basic conditions:
- The permissible towing weight of the trailer (and the semi-trailer ) must be < the empty weight of the towing vehicle (support, vertical, or trailer loads)
- The permissible towing weight of the combination (, for example, the towing or semitrailer tractor ) must be < 12 t
(The permissible towing weight is calculated by adding the permissible towing weight of the individual vehicles; also applies to semitrailer tractors excluding the trailer load)
If one of these basic conditions is not satisfied, the unrestricted class CE is generally required.
| Example 1: | |
| towing vehicle: | zGM: 7.5 t; ANH: zGM 5.0 t LM 4.5 t permissible support load 0.5 t |
| Result: | zGM ANH > LM towing vehicle zGM of tractor > 12 t |
- Basic condition 1 is not satisfied, since the zGM des ANH (5.0 t) is not < the empty weight of the towing vehicle (4.5 t)
- Basic condition is not satisfied, since the permissible towing weight of the towing combination (12.5 t) is not < 12 t
- Since both basic conditions are not satisfied, the unrestricted class CE is required.
| zGM | = Total permissible weight |
| ANH | = semi-trailer |
| zGM | = Total permissible weight |
| LM | = Empty weight |
Holders of C1 and C1E driver's license classes and also class CE (with key number 79); transfer of old class 3
For holders of an old class 3 license or a transferred CE driver's license (with the key number 79), the old vested rights apply:
- Registration of the key number 79 (C1E > 12,000 kg, L < 3)
- This is the restriction of the CE class due to the license to drive three-axle combinations with a towing vehicle of class C1 and with a total weight of more than 12,000 kg and combinations with a towing vehicle of class C1 and trailers that are not subject to approval resulting from the previous class 3 license. The total weight can exceed 12,000 kg and three-axle combinations consisting of a class C1 towing vehicle and a trailer in which the permissible total weight of the trailer exceeds the empty weight of the towing vehicle (section not covered by C1E). The aforementioned authorisations do not apply to semitrailer trains with a permissible total weight of more than 7.5 t. The letter L in this key represents the number of axles
- The aforementioned train combinations may be driven on the grounds of a prior possession of a class 3 license and the associated vested rights (transfer of an unrestricted class CE license with key number 79 and the basic conditions stated therein).
Semitrailer tractor example
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| Example 2: | |
| SZM: | zGM: 4.6 t; SANH: zGM 5.0 t LM 2.6 t trailer load 2.1 t NL 2.0 t |
| New right after transfer to class C1E: | |
| Result: | zGM SANH > LM SZM zGM SKFZ > 12 t |
- Basic condition 1 is not satisfied, since the zGM of the SANH (5.0 t) is not > the empty weight of the SZM (2.6 t)
- Basic condition 2 is not satisfied, since the zGM of SKFZ (9.6 t) is < 12 t
(The zGM is calculated by adding the zGM of the individual vehicles according to the EU guideline; also applies to semitrailer tractors excluding the trailer load) - Since only one of the two basic conditions is satisfied, class C1E is not sufficient. The unrestricted class CE would be required.
| SZM | = semitrailer tractor |
| SANH | = semi-trailer |
| zGM | = Total permissible weight |
| LM | = Empty weight |
| NL | = Payload/ semitrailer load |
Old right: class 3 driver's license or CE with key number 79
Semitrailer tractor up to 7.5 t zGM
(The permissible towing weight is calculated according to the old driver's license in accordance with § 34 paragraph 7 of the German Road Traffic Regulations:
zGG of semitrailer tractor + zGG of the semi-trailer - the respective higher trailer load).
However, prior possession of the class 3 license and the associated vested rights (transfer of an unrestricted class CE with key number 79 and the basic conditions stated therein) allows the license holder to drive the semitrailer tractor, since the permissible total weight (zGG) of 7.5 t is not exceeded.
Driving train combinations (towing vehicle and trailer) with class BE
The framework conditions defined for class BE
(permissible total weight of the trailer ≤ of the empty weight of the towing vehicle; permissible total weight of the train combination ≤ 12 t)
are not applied for class C1E.
Trailers with a permissible total weight exceeding 750 kg may not be driven.
The number of axles of the combination is irrelevant.
Technical restrictions for the permissible total weights are only formulated by the legal regulations of the vehicle design and operating instructions of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations.
Important: To utilise the advantages of the EU classes, the "old" driver's license must be transferred to a new credit card driving licence.
Overview of the possible train combinations of class BE
| Vehicle type | Permissible trailer load (according to § 42 of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations) |
zGM of the trailer | zGM of the train combination |
| Passenger cars Lorry (without continuous braking system) |
Max. the zGM of the towing vehicle |
Max. 3.5 t | Max. 7.0 t |
| Passenger cars (all-terrain vehicles according to 70/156/EEC) | Max. 1.5 times the zGM of the towing vehicle | Max. 3.5 t* | Max. 7.0 t* |
| Lorry (with continuous braking system) | Max. 1.5 times the zGM of the towing vehicle | Max. 5.25 t | Max. 8.75 t |
| Towing vehicle | No specification | max. ** | max. ** |
| Semitrailer tractor | No specification | max. ** | max. ** |
* Actual total weight
** Permissible total weights are formulated in the vehicle design and operating instructions of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (e.g. engine rating permissible axles loads, braking regulations, coupling devices, etc.)
zGM = Total permissible weight
Examples for semitrailer tractors of class BE
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