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Extension for long truck trials
Page 9
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THE DUTCH AUTHORITIES have agreed to extend a trial of longer and heavier trucks into 2004, following the lead of the Scandinavian countries.
Meanwhile Scania, Volvo and the European Shippers Council continue to press the European Commission to let Scandinavianstyle 25.25m.long outfits travel in the EU. Around 100 trucks will take part in the new test, which will determine whether longer. heavier HGVs are compatible with other Dutch road users.
The 25m-long/60-tonne gross wagon-and-drag outfits will extend a more modest test currently in progress involving only four such vehicles. However. the first batch of test heavies is not allowed on the road during rush hours. or to drive further than 50km a day. Moreover. theirjourney must end at a multi-modal terminal. As a result, operator interest has been limited although the four Dutch companies involved in the trials all claim major productivity gains.
One of them. Dusseldorp of Lichtenvoorde, has welcomed the plans to extend the trials. "We are looking to other routes in our system to use a long and heavy vehicle," says a representative. "So far, we have achieved a massive increase in efficiency. An extended test with fewer restrictions would help our business considerably."