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Atkins rules length changes
Page 7
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NI Roads and Traffic minister Robert Atkins seems likely this week to bow to pressure from industry and raise the maximum length of articulated trucks to 16.5m, in line with Europe, from 1 January 1990.
The Department of Transport told CM that Britain's trailer builders have made a "great deal of noise" about Britain's current plan to postpone the increase until 1991. The DTp says trailer builders blame this delay for a stagnation in the trailer market.
"Operators do not want to buy larger trailers now if they cannot use them for over a year," says the spokesman, "so they are putting off their orders until nearer the date."
Atkins is expected to refer to the matter when he speaks today (Thursday) at the Freight Transport Association's annual conference in Torquay.
At the same event Crane Fruehauf is exhibiting a trailer suitable for 16.5m operation which was converted from its current product range. Company spokesman Tony Palmer says he believes an early switch to the 16.5m limit is "under active consideration."
A switch to 16.5m will allow hauliers to carry an extra row of pallets, though there are no plans to increase the maximum permitted weight from its current level of 38 tonnes until 1999. The Freight Transport Association's engineering liaison manager, Graham Montgomerie, says the change will affect the buying policy of many operators.
Industry sources suggest that Atkins's apparent decision to bring forward the length increase has also been prompted by a growing number of long articulated units in Britain which use such truck technology as moving fifth wheels in an attempt to keep within current limits, though their legality is questionable.
The Road Haulage Association says it would welcome an increase in lorry lengths in harmony with the rest of Europe, but is concerned at suggestions that an announcement is likely to be made without full consultation.
Transfrigoroute also welcomes an early increase in the maximum length of artics, but says a 16.5m limit would not provide sufficient space around the extra row of pallets to allow a correct flow of cold air in reefers.