Longer trailers by the back door
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I’ve been thinking about longer semi-trailers, or high-volume semi-trailers as “they” now want them referred to. We had a good seminar up in Harrogate last month on this very topic with the chap from the Department for Transport and a group of operators and other industry experts from the trailer and axle sector. It was clear from our gathering that these longer trailers aren’t getting the universal
welcome one might have expected.
Indeed, according to the industry observers, our seminar was pretty much in line with the broader industry viewpoint and we understand ministers have been rather underwhelmed by the industry response to their proposals for longer trailers.
No shit Sherlock, what did they expect? Truck operators doing cartwheels at the prospect of buying new kit, re-training drivers and, as usual, having to pass any efficiency improvements on to their customers rather than pocket it themselves?
As is often the case, we fear ministers may have been fed a partial view of the world by some slick-suited Westminster lobbyists, and then rolled out the proposals only to be shocked to find the rest of the world is thinking in a different way.
The consultation process is now done and dusted and we’ll have to wait and see what the next pronouncements are, but we’ll lay a few quid down that this longer-trailer caper will never find its way on to the statute book.
Try this instead... After much deliberation, minister gives his approval for trials of, let’s say, 1,000 trailers, in the interests of carbon reduction and improved efficiency of course. These licences are taken up by all the usual suspects in the retail sector.
Licences are granted for the life of the trailer – surely 10 years at least – thereby satiating the demand for longer trailers and life will return to normal. Longer trailers by the proverbial back door.
A perfect solution for all, avoiding the legislative process, keeping Brussels’ nose out of our affairs and the supermarkets happy.
• It’s been a stressful few months in my world since the beginning of the year. A takeover of Commercial Motor, followed by a house move – Mario Andretti reckoned if it felt safe you weren’t going fast enough, a mantra I’ve been applying to life recently (he was talking b*****ks, by the way) – has tested the blood pressure levels. Thankfully, things have gone according to plan, although in both moves the transport and logistics sector has not covered itself in glory. A couple of weeks into the management buy-out, one of our distribution firms slapped a mandatory, non-negotiable price rise on us and 48 hours before the house move the removals firm tucked us up for an extra day of cost. When cash flow is tight, unplanned spending is the last thing you need. As someone from within the industry, I had every sympathy with the sentiment of both their actions, but the manner in which they were delivered left customer care well down the list. Thankfully all our other suppliers have been much more enlightened and we’re looking forward to continuing to serve the industry with the best magazines in the business.