Truck bosses call for higher truck weights
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• An increase in maximum vehicle weights is "essential" if Europe's roads are to accommodate the growth of freight and the problem of congestion is to be overcome, according to Daf vice chairman Cor Baan.
Speaking at last week's European Commercial Vehicle Symposium in Brussels, Baan said that Daf favours an weight limit of at least 48 tonnes on six axles. "If a larger load is carried per truck, the number of transport movements will be reduced, which, will also be of benefit to the environment", he explained.
Baan's call was backed by Iveco chief executive officer Giancarlo Boschetti, who said: "One further possibility to decrease congestion is to increase the legal weight and dimension limits for trucks beyond the present ones, which would mean fewer vehicles on the road."
An increase in the truck/trailer combination limit to 18.7m would increase freight capacity by 3%, said Boschetti.