*In the van
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Some figures just published by the US Truck Trailer Manufacturers' Association in Washington provide an interesting guide to the increase in potential haulage productivity over the years, and show how far behind the UK has lagged in introducing legislation permitting bigger vehicles.
In the USA in 1946 the largest single category of semi-trailers bought was in the 24-26ft class (24 per cent of the total); in 1933 it as the 32-34ft bracket (58 per cent) —and trailers of that length were not useable in this country until 1964. By 1956 the 34-36ft class was in the lead (and by a bigger margin, at 68 per cent of the total produced), while in 1960 it was the 38-40ft category (60 per cent). Last year the 40-42.5ft category had 64 per cent of the market.
We have now caught up with this length, but it is salutary to recall that the Americans were running 40ft trailers in 1960.