Gov’t to consult on longer lorries
April 1st 2011 Hauliers have praised a Government plan to introduce longer trailers in a bid to cut the number of lorry journeys needed. The proposal for a two metre increase in the total length of articulated lorries operating within the existing weight limit of 44 tonnes is out for consultation until June. This would take the maximum permitted length of an articulated lorry to 18.75m.
The Government intends the plan to cut carbon emissions but the most important benefits for industry could be the reduction of costs as fuel prices have spiked in the last year. Research commissioned by the Government showed longer trailers could be achieved without compromising safety.
Wincanton estimates the take up of these trucks could result in fuel savings of £60,000 per vehicle, which amounts to £1.8 billion annually.
Dave Rowlands at Wincanton said: “This new vehicle will not only take heavy vehicles off our roads but also provide significant savings and productivity improvements to the transport and haulage industry.”
The Freight Transport Association welcomed the move but feels the Government missed a trick as Andy Mair, FTA’s head of engineering policy, explained: “The combination of steering technologies and increased trailer length will result in an overall reduction of payload. There could have been an even greater win had Ministers been more ambitious in considering a slight increase in gross vehicle weight to achieve payload neutrality.”
Stobart Group added that its research suggested the longer lorries would work best for closed loop transport operations, to and from the same locations, for fast moving consumer goods.
The Group estimates the proposals will result in a 15% increase in volume capacity for pallets and 20% for cages, equivalent to a maximum load increase from 26 to 30 1000x1200mm pallets or from 45 to 54 UK standard retail cages.
William Stobart, group chief operating officer, said: “A large number of loads ‘bulk out before they weigh out’, and longer trailers with increased capacities will bring benefits across the board to the environment, other road users, and ultimately the retailers and their customers.” More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
