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Longer trailers back on Dirs agenda
Page 7
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By David Harris, Christopher Walton and Chris Tindatt THE DEPARTMENT for Transport (DfT) is considering authorising longer semi-trailers as part of its freight strategy, it said this week.
The possibility of longer trailers is being considered, despite the fact that in June the DfT rejected testing longer, heavier vehicles (LHVs) of 25.25m and 60-tonnes GCW.
Although longer trailers do not necessarily mean heavier trucks, the IMF's move does seem a partial turnaround.
One of the reasons for rejecting the earlier trial was that bigger trucks could threaten rail freight business, which the Government wants to encourage, but it may be that longer artic semi-trailers without an increased weight limit could be a compromise solution.
The DfT spokeswoman stresses that the issue of introducing longer trailers (like the 14.9m Kogel Big-MAXX, right) is complex, but adds that officials will take into account the -views of all stakeholders" before deciding whether longer trailers should be allowed on UK roads.
However,shadow transport secretaryTheresa Villiers said last week that a Conservative government "would not authorise the use of longer heavy goods vehicles on UK roads".
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is among those that have been arguing for longer vehicles. Last week it was revealed that the FTA will urge the Government to consider allowing longer and heavier semi-trailers on UK roads, just months after the DfT ditched the idea of trialling 25.25m LHVs.
James Hookham, FTA policy director, says there is no way of achieving environmental targets on CO2 reductions other than looking at the use of heavier artics up to 18.75m long.