The long wait ends
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Transport Minister Mike Penning’s announcement that longer semi-trailers are to be trialled on UK roads has sent operators rushing to claim their share of them
Words: The CM team
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE that so much excitement has been created by the announcement of a trailer trial that represents only 2% of the UK’s heavy trailer leet. But with just six weeks left (until 2 December) for operators to complete their expressions of interest for the 900 semi-trailers with an increased length of 1m and the 900 with an extra 2.05m, it is more than likely that demand will exceed supply.
The largest operators have already set out their stall: Stobart Group, which has worked closely with SDC on its longer spec trailers, tells CM it wants a “signiicant number” , while Wincanton, which has developed a trailer in conjunction with Don Bur, plans to request 300.
Signiicantly, the likes of Bibby Distribution is looking for 100 of the 2.05m options and Asda is targeting three igures as well. Fellow own-ac count operator United Biscuits will also apply, while Jack Richards & Sons is looking for “tens of trailers” of both types for its leet. Even Coca-Cola says it is investigating options with its thirdparty hauliers.
Cartwright Group believes demand will exceed supply for the trial trailers, and that allocation will be capped by the Department for Transport (DfT) following applications from operators.
The manufacturer is glad the uncertainty is over and that a decision has been made by the DfT. “We’ve already got existing designs and can be manufacturing very quickly,” says director John Cartwright.
He adds that Cartwright intends to