Longer, Heavier Goods Vehicles ?
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FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE Ministry of Transport may be preparing to make an announcement concerning bigger, heavier goods vehicles. This ES the implication behind the recent submission to the Ministry by the National Road Transport Federation of suggestions for increasing the box dimensions and carrying capacities of goods vehicles. Obviously the two must go together.
Why is the Ministry announcement an implication? Because I understand that the Ministry suggested, that the N.R.T.F. .might care to submit the suggestions!
The Ministry is undoubtedly thinking in terms of bringing British articulated vehicles more into line with Common Market vehicles, and talks have been going on for more than a year about semi-trailer dimensions.
But I understand that approaches have not yet been made to the manufacturers by the Ministry on the question of longer rigid vehicles and increased axle and gross weights.
The N,R.T.F. has proposed 36-ft. long by 8-ft. 2.1-in, wide goods vehicles. It suggests. an increase to 40 ft. in the length of articulated units.
Maximum gross weights should be as follows, said the N.R.T.E. (present weights in parentheses): four-wheeler 15 tons (14); six-wheeler 21. tons (20); eightwheeler 26 tons (24); articulated units, four or more wheels on semi-trailer 32 tons (24).
Also suggested were an increase from 9 to 10 tons in maximum axle loadings, also to apply to trailers, and a groSs weight limit of 16 tons on four-wheeled trailers instead of the present 14 tons.
A new gross weight limit of 38 tons was proposed for articulated vehicles consisting of a tandem-axle semi-trailer and six-wheeled tractive unit, and for vehicle and trailer with power-assisted brakes. Also sought was an increase to 12 tons (11) for semi-trailers with four or more wheels in line.