Ten year trial period for longer trailers
October 13th 2011 Some hauliers will be allowed to use longer trailers under plans announced by Roads Minister Mike Penning.
Following consultation on proposals to allow a two metre increase in the length of articulated lorries, the Department for Transport is allowing a ten-year trial of up to 900 trailers at an increased length of 2.05 metres, and 900 at an increase of one metre. The longer lorries will operate within the existing weight limit of 44 tonnes.
The trial is expected to provide a £33m boost to the haulage industry as the longer vehicles provide up to 13% more loading space – allowing fewer journeys to transport the same amount of goods - without compromising safety.
Mike Penning said: "The road haulage industry is vital to the growth of our economy. By allowing companies to use one truck where they may have previously needed to send two, we can help the sector improve efficiency and save money – which should in turn benefit consumers.
"Independent research showed the potential environmental, safety and congestion benefits of longer trailers and this voluntary trial will give industry the opportunity to demonstrate how this works in practice.
"The trial will be subject to rigorous annual assessments and will be closely and independently monitored throughout so that any concerns are addressed quickly."
The consultation responses indicated that haulage operators would like the option to choose between different trailer lengths depending on the type of operation they are carrying out.
The changes would make the total permitted length for articulated lorries 18.55 metres; the current maximum length for lorries using a truck and drawbar trailer is 18.75 metres. The Government has ruled out any further increase in length.
Lightweight goods
The announcement has been welcomed by The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT).
CILT says that the trials of longer vehicles could benefit the movement of high volume and light weight goods, such as paper goods or potato crisps enabling worthwhile reductions in road miles resulting in reduced carbon emissions, reduced accident rates and lower costs.
CILT Chief Executive Steve Agg said: “It is important that we maximise the efficiency of every available transport mode. Establishing this trial is a sensible response following the consultation and it gives industry the chance to review the innovation and test its implications for our infrastructure, the environment, all road users and consumers alike.
“It is a fact that for many high volume but low weight goods which are on the move every day, the lorry runs out of carrying capacity by volume well before maximum weight levels are reached. There is a good argument for suggesting that, for some goods, trailer lengths can be increased producing operating and environmental benefits generated by the need to use fewer vehicles.”
Allocation process
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has also welcomed the announcement.
Andy Mair, FTA’s Head of Engineering Policy said: “FTA research suggests that there are significant environmental and efficiency benefits on offer from deploying these vehicles. But it is not a vehicle for all sectors and will only be viable on journeys where the goods carried are high volume, low weight as vehicle fill can be improved. Consequently, the number of journeys will be reduced and the number of lorry miles cut.”
FTA believes that should there be an over-subscription for the number of high volume semi-trailers than have been authorised under the trial, operators who can demonstrate the greatest efficiency benefits should be prioritised.
Mair concluded: “The allocation process of trailers should seek to maximise the potential carbon saving benefit that their deployment could yield. To achieve this, the process should be based on evidence of what the trailer will be used for, the intensity of their use in terms of vehicle kilometres and load fill.
“The Department must avoid a free-for-all auction where operators speculatively apply for high volume semi-trailer permits which are then either not taken up or used infrequently.” More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
