I was just wondering why most of the tractors over in Europe have only 2 axles, where as over here in the UK the majority of our tractors have 3 axles (6x2) what is the reason for this? Sorry if this is a dumb queston, and my apologies if this has been asked before.
I was just wondering why most of the tractors over in Europe have only 2 axles, where as over here in the UK the majority of our tractors have 3 axles (6x2) what is the reason for this? Sorry if this is a dumb queston, and my apologies if this has been asked before.
used to be road tax but forgive me if i’m wrong 
TommyBoy:
I was just wondering why most of the tractors over in Europe have only 2 axles, where as over here in the UK the majority of our tractors have 3 axles (6x2) what is the reason for this? Sorry if this is a dumb queston, and my apologies if this has been asked before.
40t is the norm in euro land I think so no need for that extra axle
Such an inportant question you just had to ask twich eh? 
Much of Europe runs at a 40 tonne weight limit and so two axles are sufficient, especially as in France the drive axle weight limit is 13.5 tonnes, making it almost impossible to overload if the MGW is within limits.
Dutch and Swedish trucks run at higher MGWs but these also have three axles.
used to be the same when uk was on 38 ton ? road tax for 6 axels was cheaper than 5 etc etc etc something to do with axel weight pressure on the wear and tear on our fantastic roads!!! 
i’m sure someone will correct me or give you better explanation!!
Mainly 40t on 5 axles on mainland Euro and you can fit a much larger derv tank on a 4x2?
as steve-o said most eu countries run at 40 tonne so no need to have the extra axel, their are one or two that run heavier one being holland where i think they can run to 50 tonne, but only within holland if i am correct(if i am wrong i will be shot down)
and then they do run 3 axel units, possibly some of the scandinavian run over 44 as well but not to sure 
if you can’t understand how its laid out try the link
12-Oct-2011
PERMISSIBLE MAXIMUM WEIGHTS OF TRUCKS IN EUROPE (in tonnes)
Country Weight per
non-drive
axle
Weight per drive
axle
Lorry
2 axles
Lorry
3 axles
Road Train
4 axles
Road Train
5 axles and +
Articulated Vehicle
5 axles and +
Albania 10 11.5 (3) 18 26 (2) 36 40 44
Armenia 10 10 18 22 36 (19) 36 (19) 36 (19)
Austria 10 11.5 18 26 36 40 40
Azerbaijan 10 10 18 24 36 42 44
Belarus 10 10 / 11.5 18 / 20 25 38 / 40 40 / 42 42 / 44
Belgium 10 12 19 26 39 44 44 (1)
Bosnia-Herzegovina 10 11.5 19 26 38 40 40
Bulgaria 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 40
Croatia 10 11.5 18 24 36 40 40
Czech Republic 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 44 (2) 42 / 48
Denmark 10 11.5 (3) 18 26 (2, 3) 38 42 / 48 42 / 48
Estonia 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 (4) 40 (5) 40
Finland (6) 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 44 / 60 (7) 42 / 48
France 13 13 19 26 38 40 40
FYROM 10 11.5 18 24 31 40 40
Georgia 10 11.5 44 44 44
Germany 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 40
Greece 7 / 10 13 19 26 33 40 40
Hungary 10 11.5 18 25 30 40 40 / 44 (8)
Iceland 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 44
Ireland 10 11.5 (9) 18 26 (2) 36 44 (2) 44 (2)
Italy 12 12 18 26 (2) 40 44 44
Latvia 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 40 40 40
Liechtenstein 10 11.5 18 26 36 40 40
Lithuania 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 40 / 44 (10)
Luxembourg 10 12 (11) 19 26 44 44 44
Malta 10 11.5 18 25 36 40 40 / 44 (8)
Moldova 10 10 18 24 36 40 40
Montenegro 10 16 24 36 40 40
Netherlands (12) 10 11.5 21.5 33 40 50 50
Norway 10 11.5 19 26 37 42 44
Poland 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 40
Portugal (4) 10 12 19 26 37 40 40
Romania 10 11.5 18 25 36 40 40
Russia 10 10 18 25 (2) 36 38 38
Serbia 10 11.5 18 26 32 40 40
Slovakia 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 40
Slovenia 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 40
Spain 10 11.5 18 26 36 40 44 (13) / 42 (14)
Sweden 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 38 48/60 (10) 48/60 (10)
Switzerland 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 40
Turkey 10 11.5 18 25/26 (16) 36 40 40/44 (10)
Ukraine 11 11 16 (17) 22 (17) 38 (17) 38 (17) 38 (17)
United Kingdom 10 11.5 18 26 (2) 36 40 (18) 40 / 44 (10, 18)
Notes
- 2 axles tractor + 3 axles semi-trailer: mechanical suspension = 43t ; pneumatic suspension = 44t
- With air suspension or similar
- Weight per drive axle: national traffic = 10t; international traffic = 11.5t; Lorry 3 axles: national traffic = 24t; international traffic = 26t
- 3 axle tractor + 1 axle trailer = 35t
- 3 and + axles tractor + 3 and + axles trailer = 44t
- For vehicles registered in an EEA member country
- 5 axles = 44t; 6 axles = 56t; 7 axles = 60t
- 44t is applicable for 40 feet long ISO containers
- Weight per drive axle: mechanical suspension (national traffic) = 10.5t; road friendly suspension (national traffic) = 11.5t; international traffic =11.5t
12-Oct-2011 - For vehicles engaged in combined transport
- Weight per drive axle: mechanical suspension = 11.5t
- Under specific conditions EMS (European Modular System) combinations may have a maximum length of 25.25 m and maximum mass of 60t
- 3-axle motor vehicle with 2 or 3 axle semi-trailer carrying a 40 feet ISO container as a combined transport operation
- 2 axle motor vehicle with 3 axle semi-trailer carrying a 40 feet ISO container as a combined transport operation
- 5 axles = 48t; 6 axles = 58t; 7 axles = 60t
- With the conditions laid down in Regulation for type approval.
- Container trucks 2 axles = 18t; 3 axles = 24t; road train 4 axles, 5 axles and + and articulated vehicles 5 axles and + =44t; container trucks licensed
by the state Motor Road service of Ukraine and State traffic Inspection Department: road trains and articulated vehicle 5 axles and + = 46t - For general operation at 44t, at least 6 axles are required. The drive axle(s) must not exceed 10.5t and have twin tyres / road friendly suspension.
Vehicles not having road friendly suspension on the drive axle(s) must have twin tyres and a maximum axle weight not exceeding 8.5t. Each part of
the combination must have at least 3 axles and the trailer must have road friendly suspension - Above the authorized weight of 36 tonnes, each additional tone is subject to a fine of 55 AMD (1 USD=364 AMD) per km
I should of known it was something to do with weights, silly me Anyway thanks for replying guys I’ve been wondering this for a while and it realy started bugging me, now I know, thanks 
TommyBoy:
I should of known it was something to do with weights, silly me
Alot of dutch and belguim outfits often have midlifts behind their side skirts.