In addition to the discharge of climate-affecting substances and health-affecting substances, truck transports also causes other environmental effects, of which noise is one of the more noticeable.
Noise nuisance and noise emissions are generally defined as "undesirable noise". Apart from straightforward hearing injuries, this type of noise can give symptoms of stress such as raised blood pressure, raised heart rate, insomnia, difficulties in concentrating, headache, and general tiredness. At speeds above 50 km/h, the main source of this kind of noise is contact between tyres and road surface.
The EU Commission has set objectives and targets regarding noise pollution. The objective is to reduce the number of people affected by long-term high levels of noise by around 10% by year 2010 and 20% by year 2020 (based on year 2000 and an estimated 100 million people).