4.2m height limit set to go in June
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by Miles Brignall • Trailer manufactures designing extra capacity low height vehicles look to have been wasting their time as a Government proposal to scrap the 4.2m height limit on vehicles above 35 tonnes is set to become law.
Unless there is an objection to the proposal, currently being laid before Parliament in the form of a statutory resolution, the changes will be implemented in mid June.
At present any vehicle up to 35 tonnes is not subject to a maximum height but 38-tonners are restricted to 4.2m. The Department of Transport says the existing legislation created an anomaly and the Government is trying to remove restrictive legislation. Some operators already run trailers of 4.66m at less than 35 tonnes.
Colin Miles, managing director of technical services at Christian Salvesen, described the changes as excellent news. "It's true we've spent a great deal of time and money developing the low height trailers at 4.2m, but this will give much greater operational flexibility."
But David Weale of Northern Ireland-based Wilson DoubleDeck Trailers describes the decision as crazy. "The height restriction in Europe remains at 4m and this move just creates even more disparity between the UK and Europe," he says.
E Trailer widths also look set to rise. The DOT is currently registering an increase from 2.5m to 2.55 with the EC.