Now importers want 36.75 tonne artic
Page 4
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Joint approach seeks changes to UK
makers proposals by CM reporter BRITAIN'S truck importers have got together to produce new vehicle weight proposals which call for a 36,75-tonne artic and a 10.5-tonne axle weight. The proposals—sent individually to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders—are now being studied by the SMMT whose own truck and 'trailer committee last month (CM, May 9) produced suggestions of its own. The importers want slightly higher gross limits than the UK makers, "Where the UK makers rounded down, we have rounded up," Mr Phil Ives, managing director of Ailsa Trucks Ltd, the Volvo importers, told CM till§ week. Mr Ives set up a meeting of truck importers—including Berliet, MAN, Fiat, Scania, DAF, Magirus and Mercedes as well as Volvo—after the truck and trailer committee's figures were leaked to the technical press. The importers have formed their own subsection of the SMMT importers committee, hitherto dominated by car importers.
Mr Ives says that the importers would have liked to call for an 11-tonne axle weight limit, but realise that the UK political scene is_ probably too delicate to allow this at present. Instead they have stuck to the SMMT's own 10.5-tonne weight for rear axles, but have suggested an increase from 6 to 7.13 tonnes for front axles. This would allow (as shown in the accompanying table) a 17-tonne four-wheeler.
The importers are now writing to the SMMT with their proposals individually (as importers they are not allowed by SMMT rules to submit a joint proposal). Their suggestions will presumably be considered by the Society before it makes an approach to the DoE.
this is designed to accommodate a 30.5-tonne ISO container.