Only 300 longer semi allocations left for trial
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By Chris Druce
THERE ARE only 300 longer semi-trailer allocations remaining, the Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed.
The DfT relaunched the longer-semi trailer trial in September 2013 after a poor response from the original version, resulting in only 550 of the 14.6m and 15.65m trailers on offer being put into service. However, a DfT spokesman confirmed that, since the relaunch, 900 applications had been received from operators keen to join the scheme or increase the number of longer semi-trailers in their fleets. About 750 longer semi-trailers are now on the road. With the surge in new applications, in addition to the number of permits issued as part
of the original trial, only 300 of the 1,800 permits remain available.
A DfT spokesman said: "Progress on the longer semis trial continues, and we are pleased with the increased uptake of allocations since relaunching the process." The original two-year deadline
for scheme participants to use their longer semi-trailer allocations passed on 13 December. While it is not known how many allocations were surrendered, the figures suggest it could have been as many as two-thirds.