In Germany and other European nations, big trucks that travel major highways face possible pollution fees.

Motor carriers with at least four axles that fail to meet the European Union's minimum emissions standards face paying the so-called "Eurovignette" fee, which can be as much as $1,410 a year. For trucks that meet minimum standards called "Euro-I," the fee will be about $1,275. Trucks that meet stricter "Euro-II" emissions standards are to pay $1,137.
While one-day Eurovignette fees for use of German highways are a flat fee of $7.30 for all types of trucks above 12 tons, rates for the week, month and year will be shifted based on emission tests. Motor carriers that fail to pay Eurovignette fees will be fined as much as $5,000.
Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden are other countries participating in the program. Fees paid in Germany entitle motor carriers to use highways in any of those countries.
The "time-related" Eurovignette charges are a temporary measure that will give way in 2003 to distance-related motorway use fees, which have yet to be determined, says German Transport Minister Kurt Bodewig.
German motor carrier organizations have asked Bodewig to keep user fees at a low rate because many German motor carriers are suffering through hard times. They claim the fees may drastically tighten their financial budget during at a time when rates are low and competition is intense.