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Weight who's the bogieman?

27th June 1991, Page 13
27th June 1991
Page 13
Page 13, 27th June 1991 — Weight who's the bogieman?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• On 1 January 1993, as regular readers of CM already know, the UK will introduce higher weight limits for some vehicles running between EC states.

Under EC Directive 3/1985 we have no choice, and hauliers anxious to compete in Europe on equal terms have welcomed the belated concession.

Dogged

But the Department of Transport discussion document on the Directive reveals that some of our civil servants are prepared to fight a dogged rearguard action against the spirit of harmonisation. Not only is the DTp talking about substantial reductions in the permitted bogie weights of six and eight-leggers — it is seriously considering forcing UK-based vehicles to run at lower weights than their foreignbased competitors on UK roads.

The EC-agreed limits after 1 January 1993 for inter-state trucking will allow three-axled rigids to gross 25 tonnes, or 26 tonnes if fitted with air-suspended (or equivalent) twinwheeled drive axles; 2+2 artics and drawbar rigs will be allowed to run at 35 tonnes. The DTp has also asked for comments on the early introduction of the 32-tonne limit for four-wded rigids which the EC will not demand until 1999.

Suggesting

All well and good, but now the DTp is suggesting that Ll The 25-tonne limit should be linked to an axle limit of 10.5 tonnes and bogie limit of 18 tonnes;

CI 26 tonnes would be linked to an axle limit of 10.5 tonnes and a bogie carried on ''roadfriendly" suspension limited to 19 tonnes.

In the UK a three-axled rigid can currently gross 24.39 tonnes and have 10.17-tonne axles on a 20.34-tonne bogie with any kind of suspension. So at either of the suggested higher GVWs' there would be a major cut in bogie weights — and at 25 tonnes GVW there would be a significant risk of overloading front or rear axles.

Eight-legger

Likewise an eight-legger is currently allowed 9.66-tonne axles, a 19.32 bogie and a 30.49tonnes GVW on a 6.5m axle spread. However, DTp suggestions for them are:

El 30.5 tonnes GVW — existing axle spreads and limits, but a bogie limit of 18 tonnes; CI 30 tonnes GVW — with a 10.5-tonne axle, 18-tonne bogie (19 tonnes with road-friendly suspension) and overall axle spread (in metres) being at least one fifth of gross weight (in tonnes), equating to a 6m spread for 30 tonnes; 0 32 tonnes GVW — with a 19-tonne bogie made up of equal 9.5-tonne axles, road-friendly suspension and the 5:1 weight/spread ratio.

When the UK has to allow 32-tonne four-aided rigids in 1999 it will also have to allow them an 11.5-tonne drive-axle. The DTp says the most effective way to limit road damage is to limit individual axle weights. So why does it suggest reducing them (as bogies) and increasing them as drive-axles?

Bogie limits

The lower bogie limits, says the DTp, are contained in the EC Directive. But the Directive's weights are not legal limits. The Directive simply says that any vehicle complying with them may not be refused admission by another member state. in fact almost all member states have bogie weights of at least 20 tonnes.

Meanwhile 10.5-tonne drive axles have to be allowed uncon ditionally on three-axled ar ticulated tractors and drawbar rigids on interstate journeys from 1 January 1992. So the DTp looks set to also allow them on rigid trucks which are not drawbar tractors.

It would seem silly for the 10.5-tonne figure to depend on whether or not a rigid was towing a drawbar trailer, but no sillier than for the 35-tonne four-axle combi nation limit to depend on what kind of journey a vehicle was on. And that is exactly what the DTp is suggesting.

It acknowledges that vehicles on inter-state operations — whether UK or foreign-based — have to be allowed 35 tonnes on 1 January 1993, regardless of their suspension. But for national operations it says that vehicles must have road-friendly suspension. If not, they will still be restricted to 32.5 tonnes.

Conventional

This means that an Irish, Spanish or Greek four-aided artic or drawbar with conventional suspension could operate on UK roads at 35 tonnes. But a British domestic operator driving alongside it in an identical vehicle would be limited to 32.5 tonnes.

The DTp has not made it clear if its suggestions for rigid trucks — including reduced bogie weights — would apply to domestic hauliers, inter-state work or all operations.

As it plans to restrict the unconditional 35-tonne limt to inter-State operations, it should restrict the bogie weights in the same way, because the EC Directive from which they come does not apply to national operations. In fact it specifically says that national weight limits can be higher than those in the Directive.

0 Operator feedback to the discussion document must be in by 19 July.

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Organisations: Department of Transport

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