1996 40-tonne wait limit
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IN Britain seems set to fight a European Commission plan to end the UK 38-tonne weight derogation for trucks by 1996.
Transport Secretary Paul Channon said after last Thursday's meeting of the Council of Ministers in Brussels that Britain would "object very strongly" to the move, the first time the Commission has set as firm date on ending the derogation, but added that he did not want to comment on a report he had not seen.
The Council of Ministers agreed in principle a package including a rise in maximum weights for four-axle drawbars and artics to 36 or even 38 tonnes as part of a scheme to harmonise rules for two, three and four-axle vehicles across the EEC.
However, the UK is likely to be allowed a temporary onetonne lower weight derogation for some classes. These would mean a 17-tonne limit on twoaxle rigids, 35 tonnes for fouraxle drawbars and artics (38 tonnes when the tractive unit has a GVW under 18 tonnes, a trailer under 20 tonnes or an air suspension combination).
Other limits are 25 tonnes for a three-axle rigid and 32 tonnes for a four-axle rigid — all details have to be fixed at the next Council of Minister's meeting early next year. A 10.5-tonne drive axle limit will apply in the UK instead of the agreed 11.5-tonne limit for the rest of Europe.
Proposals to end the 38tonne derogation were not discussed at Thursday's meeting, but they will be on the agenda for the next Council gathering. Several countries, including Spain, whose minister takes over the presidency of the Council in January, are calling for an earlier deadline of 1992 or 1994.
Any move to push for a date to allow 40-tonne trucks in Britain is likely to be resisted by many MPs. Labour's transport spokesman John Prescott says he is against upping the 38tonne limit.