letters
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Do you want to comment on any of the stories in Commercial ? Does someone in the industry deserve a pat on the back—or a public dressing down? Or is there simply something you want to say to our readers? Don't keep it to yourself —drop us a line at CM Letters, iirri H203, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 511S. Alternatively, you can fax your letter to us on 0181 652 8971 or e-mail it to
Letters may be edited for length and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor.
FTA spoke on 44--tonners
is not defined, nor cross referenced. In our view, therefore, the use of these vehicles to and from ports would also qualify as a permitted journey.
Let us be clear, this is not about the ETA wanting lorry weights that are wearing to roads, as Robert Missen implies. It is about maximising the productivity of existing vehicles in a bid to keep industry's transport bills down and to keep UK goods competitive in European and global markets. There is an environmental gain too, as more fully laden vehicles will mean fewer vehicles on the roads. We will pursue any legislative path that is available to us in pursuit of this goal for our members.
I trust that upon consulting with his colleagues Mr Missen will feel able to correct the false impression created with CM readers. James Hookham, Executive director—transport policy, FTA.
Ican assure Robert Missen (CM Letters, 1730 Dec 1998) and Freight Transport Association members that we did raise the absence of the 44 tonnes on five-axle vehicle from the draft UK vehicle weights regulations with the European Commission during last Autumn. FTA policy managers are in regular contact with staff at all levels in the Commission, We also pointed out to the DOT that in our view the omission of 44 on five was an incomplete, and hence illegal, implementation of the Directive. Its subsequent inclusion in the final regulations means that someone, somewhere agreed with us.
What the EU Weights and Dimensions Directive (96/53) allows is the use of this type of vehicle to transport 40ft container boxes as part of a combined transport journey. In this Directive the meaning of combined transport