Longer trailer limits 'not a simple issue'
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By the CM team
THE EAGERLY AWAITED decision on longer-trailer limits has posed more questions than answers after the Department for Transport announced a two-month consultation on the use of longer semi-trailers that could see articulated vehicles of up to 18.75m long used by operators.
Proposals include increasing the maximum trailer length by 2.05m, or 13%, to 15.65m. An increase in GVW above the 44-tonne maximum has been dismissed. However draft technical requirements for trials of longer semi-trailers propose a height limit of 4.57m due to safety concerns over cross-winds (see box).
Jack Semple, director of policy at the Road Haulage Association, says its members are both in favour and against the introduction of longer semi-trailers, and described the height limit as a “concern”.
“This is not a simple issue and we never thought that it was. But we are pleased that the government is getting full answers to the potential impact on the industry as a whole.” Simon Reed, MD of international haulier Simarco, welcomed the chance to syncronise trailer lengths with Europe: “Anything that offers the opportunity to make a 15% capacity gain is going to attract attention, but any degree of beneit has to be balanced against the cost of buying new, longer trailers and the amounts incurred in disposing of the old.” Paul Sanders, chairman of the Association of Pallet Networks (APN), insists: “This is a win, reducing the trunk cost per pallet both to and from the hub for pallet operators. From a pallet hub trunking viewpoint, we welcome the longer trailers as this will give potentially capacity for an extra eight pallets per trunk in the future.” ● The consultation ends on 21 June and can be viewed at: www.dft.gov. uk/consultations/open/2011-06/
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