CM VERDICT
Page 49
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Don't hold your breath...
According to a survey carried out by the German consultants Kessel & Partner, most heavy trucks work at up to 85% of full capacity (volume), so a longer semi-trailer concept could help reduce traffic congestion by up to 8% where operators are running out of load volume on a single artic.
But what's good for Eddie Stobart isn't necessarily the answer for every UK hire or reward artic operator, especially now when there is little or no appetite (or capital) for buying new equipment. Conversely, many own-account fleets will look at longer semi-trailers with interest, especially those who already cubeout on an existing artic. Whether artic drivers will welcome trying to reverse a longer trailer into already cramped loading bays remains to be seen...
The real question is how long should a longer trailer be? According to Silvertip Design's Henderson, the longer the better: "We should try and use longer trailer configurations to promote great collaboration and consolidation amongst operators. There are lots of trucks running around with unused deck space. When you've got a 13.6m trailer a 'part load' often takes up most of the deck space and the average operator isn't going to think it worth the effort to pick up four to five pallets just to run full. But if it was a matter of taking on an extra 10-12 pallets in a longer trailer that's where there are real opportunities to improve efficiencies."
Naturally all will hinge on the DfT's latest survey. And if there is sufficient support (and more importantly ministerial backing) the next step wit be to take it to full industry consultation, in 2010. Only given the recent decision on LHVs, CM's advice is, don't hold your breath just yet.