NEXT WEEK's CM has an international theme: we look at
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EEC permits, and how one operator avoids them, and braking legislation. There's also our annual ferry guide and a road test of an imported tractive unit.
• International road haulage permits for EEC countries are to be phased out between 1987 and 1992. In the meantime this leaves the pressure on permits for certain countries. Next week CM looks at the current position and examines how the International Road Freight Office (112F0) decides who gets permits and who does not.
• One way of breaking into international haulage while remaining untroubled hy permits is to run vehicles with a plated weight that does not exceed six tonnes gross vehicle weight. We see how one operator uses this permit exemption to run a "hot-shot" service into Europe.
• New EEC braking legislation comes into effect later this year. It includes for the first time provisions for anti-lock systems; the compatibility or otherwise of "European" and British semi-trailers; and the arguments for and against spring parking brakes on semitrailers.
All these are subjects of concern to international hauliers. They arc also subjects on which the IRU (International Road
'transport Union) has some firm views. We report them in next week's issue.
• Our annual roll-on/off ferry guide details t. routes this year. Drivers new to international haulage may find it worthwhile to keep our map in the cab. We've also exit street plans ft nine Continental ports.
• The trend towards building engines that deliver maximum torque lower down the rev range was never more evident than it is today An example of this is Iveco's 220.30, a 6x2 tractive unit powered by a long-established 13.8-litre Fiat engine that can still produce over 1,200Nm of torque as low as 1,000rpm.
Geared fbr fast motorway cruising, this tor weight tractive unit is also said to be a mean performer at 38 tonnes. We have driven it around our Scottish test route and the outcome proved enlightening . . .