DOT consults on 41-tonne six-axle limit
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• The Government has published its consultation document on increasing the maximum domestic truck weights to 41 tonnes. Earlier this year the Department of Transport said it wanted to allow artics with six axles and road-friendly suspensions to operate at 41 tonnes. It was prompted by the fact that from January Continental hauliers running at 40 tonnes on five axles will be allowed to enter the UK.
The DOT has proposed raising the limit from 38 to 41 tonnes to allow UK operators to fit an extra axle to tractors without incurring the weight penalty. But opponents predict the extra costs of running three-axled units will still make the move uneconomic.
The DOT is also consulting on changes to axle spacing on trailers. According to the Freight Transport Association's engineering policy manager, Geoff Day, they will have very little effect on the design of most vehicles— except for centre-axled trailers and some three axled concrete mixers.
Write to: IK Bidmead, DOT, Zone 2/01, 76 Marsham St, London SW1P 4DR by 16 November,