Many people ask why a pilot car in Denmark is charged one way – and in Sweden in a completely different way. The difference can have a significant impact on the total cost of a transport.
In Denmark you pay an hourly rate for a pilot car from the moment the vehicle leaves home until it returns home again. In Sweden you pay for the route of the load, and here you are charged both an hourly rate and a kilometre rate, or in some cases only a kilometre rate. A warning vehicle (varningsbil) is cheaper than a VTL (Vägtransportledare) per hour, but the kilometre rate is higher for the warning vehicle. In both Denmark and Sweden, additional costs such as toll roads and bridges are added.
Let us take an example in Denmark. A hypothetical heavy transport is allowed to drive at 60 km/h. It must be escorted from Padborg (the German/Danish border) to Frederiksund on Zealand. One pilot car is required, and the nearest available driver lives near Ribe.
– The hourly rate is set at 450 DKK (660 SEK / 60 EUR).
– The pilot car uses 1 hour to drive to Padborg (positioning).
– The permit states that the transport must go via O3 near Copenhagen, so the distance is 337 km and it takes 6.25 hours including a 45-minute break.
– After the escort, the pilot car has 3.25 hours back to Ribe (return drive).
– The crossing of the Great Belt bridge costs 230 DKK each way.
The total price for the assignment becomes 10.5 hours (1 + 6.25 + 3.25) multiplied by 450 DKK plus 2 times 230 DKK, i.e. 5,185 DKK (7,625 SEK / 695 EUR).
Another example with the same heavy transport, which may only drive at 60 km/h, from Trelleborg to Jönköping in Sweden. In Sweden there is no positioning or return driving. A VTL (Vägtransportledare) is required, for example due to bridge restrictions, meaning bridges that, for structural load reasons, may only be crossed at reduced speed by a heavy transport.
– The hourly rate is set at 995 SEK (675 DKK / 90 EUR).
– The kilometre rate is set at 7.35 SEK (5.00 DKK / 0.67 EUR).
– The distance is 325 km and it may take 6.25 hours including a 45-minute break.
The price becomes 6.25 × 995 SEK plus 325 × 7.35 SEK, totalling approximately 8,600 SEK (5,850 DKK / 785 EUR).
If a warning vehicle is also required, it may cost for example 550 SEK per hour and 5.50 SEK per kilometre.
As a transport buyer, it is important to understand the difference between the pricing models, as a direct comparison of hourly rates can be misleading.
If you need a specific calculation for your transport, we are happy to assist.