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Longer semi-trailer trial revisions come up short By Chris Druce

20th June 2013, Page 4
20th June 2013
Page 4
Page 4, 20th June 2013 — Longer semi-trailer trial revisions come up short By Chris Druce
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THE INDUSTRY HAS welcomed the longer semi-trailer trial reboot announced last week, but warned that plans to accelerate the trial by slashing the time allocations are valid for are overly ambitious.

With just 500 longer semis on the road to date, from a total allocation of 1,814, the Department for Transport (DfT) conceded last week that "it is highly unlikely that the [total] figure will be reached by December".

It has since launched a consultation that proposes applications will be opened up and made on a first come, first served basis, likely within the next few months, to get the trial up to speed.

However, operators and manufacturers alike have warned that DfT proposals to grant individual trailer allocations valid for a period of just two to three months, are not long enough to get units built and on the road.

Both Syed Ziaullah, chief executive of APC Overnight and Nick Hay, MD of Fowler Welch, expressed concern to CM about trailer manufacturers' ability to meet such a short deadline. It is a view echoed by Andy Mair, head of engineering at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), who said members were indicating that a six-month period of validity would make more sense.

He said: "The FTA welcomes the revisions as they remain key to making the trial a success, but the timeframe for new allocations needs to be more realistic."


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