Industry and DfT lobby for 4m-high trailers
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THE INDUSTRY AND the DfT have joined forces to lobby the European Commission (EC) to retain the UK’s right to operate trailers above four metres high.
The lobbying took place at a meeting of the Motor Vehicles Working Group in Brussels. The EC said it would consider lifting the limit to 4.88m for doubledeck trailers. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) asked for the move to apply to all trailers and told the EC it should be raised to 4.95m to accommodate the UK’s tallest trailers.
“We are surveying our members to ind out the effect of a loss of 7cm in terms of goods carried,” says Chris Yarsley, road freight, enforcement and EU affairs manager at the FTA. He adds: “We hope to get rid of the double-deck reference.” The UK was supported by France and Ireland. Yarsley says the continuing derogation is only required for domestic purposes as there is an international limit of 4m.
Whatever the EC decides, the issue won’t be resolved until late this year or early next.
What do you think? Send your views to Andy Mair at amair@fta.co.uk