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Brussels Show heralds 44 tonnes

26th January 1985
Page 27
Page 27, 26th January 1985 — Brussels Show heralds 44 tonnes
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Keywords : Brussels, Geography, Europe

Belgium's new higher limit comes in on July 1, but the exhibition was notable for a new selection of models at the other end of the market. Bill Brock reports

THE BRUSSELS Show, which closes tomorrow (Sunday), is being held only a few days since Belgium announced a 44tonne gross weight to become effective in July.

While few changes were evident at the Show in vehicles at the heavy end of the market, there was quite a selection of new vehicles at the lighter end. Most of those were Japanese.

The new 44-tonne limit must be good news for Belgian hauliers, So here is another EEC country joining Italy and Denmark and without a government pandering to rail or environmental pressure groups.

However, the Belgian regulations state that 44-tonners must run on at least five axles and employ air suspension for the semi-trailer bogie. To comply with the difference in weight distribution the tractive unit, rated at 19 tonnes, must have a seven-tonne front axle. Eight-wheel rigids go up from 26 tonnes to 32 tonnes gvw; in many cases these will provide for payloads of around 22 tonnes.

Power requirements generally for Continental operation still have an upward trend. Some manufacturers are talking of outputs as high as 313kW (420hp) but for the UK the power requirement is expected to settle at about the 242kW (325hp) mark.

Discounting remains a contentious issue on the Continent as it is here; all manufacturers deny that they are doing it, but it is there for the asking.

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