The long and the short of it
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Our operators’ panel weighs up the pros and cons of increasing trailer capacity by 13% with a 15.65m length, and puts in a good word for giving drivers more room
Words: Pat Hagan At first glance, it seems a simple equation. Longer trailers equal increased capacity, and increased capacity equals fewer trucks on the road.
But the fact that it is now ive years since the Department for Transport (DfT) irst commissioned research into the potential beneits of extending trailer limits demonstrates the matter is anything but straightforward. That irst report took two years to conclude that it was not feasible to allow an increase in articulated lorry length to a total of up to 25m, with a parallel increase in gross vehicle weight from 44 tonnes.
But it did suggest it might be possible to allow a smaller extension in length that would still bring economic and environmental beneits. So in June 2009, a second DfT report was commissioned that judged that there could be potential beneits from adding a couple of metres to the trailer limit. This would take the maximum trailer length to 15.65m, a 13% increase in capacity.
More efficiency
Put simply, ministers hope this extra space will improve carrying eficiency, cut the number of trucks on the road and help reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. But without an increase in weight and a proposal to restrict semi-trailer height to 4.57m (because of worries about cross-winds), it is less clear what the beneits will be. A two-month consultation period on the latest proposed changes is scheduled to end on 21 June. But will an extra 6ft or so transform eficiency to the point where there is a tangible beneit for the environment and cost savings for industry?
A diversity of opinions
The diversity of views among CM’s panel members gives some insight into why this has been such a long-running debate. Some think it’s a good initiative, with the potential to improve eficiency.
Others have concerns about whether the industry’s infrastructure will be able to cope, whether rates will go up in line with increased capacity and even whether, if there is to be extra space on lorry length, some at least should be allocated to the driver’s area to improve the comfort of their working environment. ■