RHA wants 50 ft. artics and matching weight boost
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PrRoad Haulage Association is o ask the Ministry of Transport to permit the overall length of articulated vehicles to be increased to 15+ metres (50 ft.)—a quarter-metre more than proposed in the MoT draft amendment to the C. and U. Regulations.
And the RHA will also suggest that the maximum gross laden weights should be increased so that full advantage can be taken of the extra length.
The draft makes no mention of an increase in weights and the RHA feels that this is illogical.
Main object of the MoT amendment is to facilitate the carriage of standard 40 ft. containers. But the RHA vehicles committee questions the ability of the proposed 15-metre (49 ft. 2 in.) artics to carry two 20 ft. containers without an overhang in excess of the proposed 3 ft. 6 in. allowance.
The RHA will also tell the Ministry that its proposed requirement for advance notification of police of length over 50 ft. is a retrograde step. And that the Association objects to the rear marker requirement for overhang of 3 ft. 6 in., pointing out that the prescribed marker is itself 5 ft.
Chief concern of the TRTA is the same question of notification, particularly as it feels that in the case of some operators this will mean that practically all their movements will have to be notified, resulting in an extra load of administrative work.