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Tall story not an issue, says FTA
Page 19
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THE GERMAN TRADE association VDA is to continue its campaign for an increased height limit for trucks on international journeys, even though the EU rejected the plan in May, Bernhard Dicke, transport economist at the VDA, says a proposal to increase the height limit from 4m to 4.2m will now be made to the German government.-If we are successful in raising the height domestically we will return to the EU to try again," he promises Dicke believes that countries such as the UK are at a "competitive advantage because they allow exceptions to the EU's 4m Directive which is law in Germany. UK hauliers who are allowed exceptions can therefore have greater loading capacity at no extra cost. We need an immediate solution".
However Don Armour, the Freight Transport Association's manager of international services. says the German aim of harmonising the new height across Europe is a case of sour grapes: "If you went to a bridge and looked at trucks on roads near Maidstone, for example, you wouldn't see more than half a dozen which are at an extra height.! don't think this is a major issue.
"I would be concerned with a 4.2m height regarding the ease of driving on-board ferries and travelling through tunnels in the Alps, never mind the actual technical costs of hauliers having to change their equipment."