The argument about axles
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The force and directness of Britain's attempts to make 10 tons the axle weight limit for Europe have obviously surprised the Economic Community, especially as the compromise figure of 11 tonnes is only 10.8 tons — or 16cwt per axle above the present limit. It is difficult to believe -that this small increase could possibly call for the hundreds of millions of pounds of spending on road and bridge strengthening which the Government claims would be needed.
But even the compromise EEC figure of 11 tonnes suffers from being a child of politics: in engineering terms it has little TO offer. Combined with a 40-tonne gyvy and the practical imitations on the weight of steering axles, it means a five axle vehicle with few obvious advantages.
The EEC Commission, glad to grasp at any figures likely to earn approval, has so far said nothing about any axle-spacing minima for vehicles taking advantage of the higher gross weights. This is relevant, since the proposed Common Market limits appear as very blunt instruments, when set alongside the complex British weight-and-space regulations which we have been promised in a few weeks.
Neither the British nor the EEC Council figures for axle weights are calculated to arouse much enthusiasm in road transport quarters. The signs are that France is right about the need for a 13-tonne limit, though for the wrong reasons. Truck makers react to the 13-tonne proposal according to how well placed they are to take advantage of it, but British design engineers have clearly stated the practical attractions of such an axle weight — not least in permitting a relatively light, compact and simple four-axle artic at 40 tons or more.
As a stonewalling exercise the British campaign for a 10-ton axle limit looks empty and reactionary: the Continentals still lack our Government's fervour about the environment. But linked with a proposal for an eventual 13-tonne limit on designated routes, it might be seen as an appealing and statesmanlike package to contribute, even at this late stage, to the EEC's common transport policy.