EEC gives warm welcome to wider reefers
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• EEC proposals to extend the permitted maximum width of reefer vehicles to 2.6m have received widespread support, and EEC Commission officials say that only minor differences remain to be resolved before the proposals are put to community transport ministers in December. There is, however, still some dissent among member countries.
British officials have said that 2.58m is sufficient, while the Germans want to restrict the 2.6m limit to certain vehicles. Bonn says that 2.6m should apply only to ATP class C&F vehicles, carrying frozen food at temperatures down to —20°C. They want to exclude class B vehicles with a temperature range of —10°C. With six EEC countries already allowing 2.6m-wide reefers in their national laws, EEC experts expect the directive to be approved — but it is unlikely to become law by 1 January 1988, as proposed in the draft directive. 0 According to refrigerated vehicle bodybuilder GRP Massey, increased dimensions "are a necessity" if British operators are to compete costeffectively with foreign hauliers, in the UK, as well as in other countries.