fT revives stalled Longer semi scheme
Page 4
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By Chris Druce
THE DEPARTMENT for Transport (DfT) is keeping its faith in both the unpopular 14.6m longer semi-trailer and its preferred 15.65m stable mate for a relaunch of its longer semi trial.
However, in a significant concession, the DfT has relaxed the rule that dictated a 50/50 split between the two available lengths in the 1,800 allocation. In June, it conceded the scheme was off course, and said that with about 500 longer semi-trailers on the road, only slightly more than 100 were 14.6m long. There are now 550 longer trailers on UK roads, but the DfT has confirmed the ratio remains unchanged.
A department spokesman said: "The industry is dictating what it needs." And what it wants appears to be the longer variant, with a recent Freight Transport
Association survey revealing little is likely to change in the coming months. While the survey found strong interest from members keen to apply for permits should any surplus be re-allocated (78%), the majority of respondents said they would still go for the 15.65m variant.
Andy Dodge, sales director at Lawrence David, told CM he was not surprised so few 14.6m trailers are on the road. "To go from a 13.6m-long trailer to 14.6m requires a form of steering rear axle.
"The additional cost is substantial, whereas the additional cost to go from 14.6m to 15.65m is minimal," he said.
• See next week's CM (26 September) for more on why the 14.6m trailer has so few fans.