Transport operator Eddie Stobart last week made the first UK delivery in a government trial of longer lorries introduced to cut congestion and slash carbon emissions in haulage.
The Department for Transport’s 10-year trial of semi-trailers of up to two metres longer than the current maximum length of 13.6 metres.
The extended trailers allow operators to carry higher volumes of goods, but still need to meet the current regulations with regard to maximum permitted weights and turning circles.
Stobart’s first delivery yesterday used its new high-volume, 15.65-metre Envirotrailer trailer with two steering rear axles, which it claims provides impressive manoeuvrability and less wear and tear to the UK road network.
The trailer was packed with 54 retail cages full of groceries for Tesco – a 20% increase in payload, which, said Stobart, “effectively allows the number of trucks on UK roads to be decreased”.
William Stobart, Stobart Group Chief Operating Officer, said: “Eddie Stobart has a reputation for innovation in the transport industry and today is another milestone in the company’s history as we operate the first longer trailer in the UK.
“We have worked in partnership with the DfT to help introduce these new trailers and the industry as a whole is set to benefit from the opportunities and environmental advantages they bring.”
But Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail Manager, said: “The government justified allowing longer HGVs on our roads by misleading MPs and distorting the safety analysis. The Department for Transport research had significant flaws because it did not look at how longer lorries would behave in urban areas and on tight right- and left-hand turns.
“By including these very common scenarios and using the government’s own figures, longer lorries could cause an additional six deaths a year and increase overall accident rates between 4% and 8%.”
She added: “ Making lorries bigger does not make sense when the government’s own statistics show that almost half of existing sized lorries are driving around partially full and over a quarter of lorries are driving around completely empty.”
source – ifw
We have ran 53ftit trailers in the US for some years now without problem, they are actually the standard now. If these trailers have sliding axel system like those in the states, drivers need to take extra care when making tight turns in heavy traffic congestion. Wait until you get to pull two at a time!
Why is it that whenever something new comes along people have to find something to complain about? The issue with longer lorries causing deaths is not the fault of the lorry driver – its the fault of the idiots taking risks and getting too close to the vehicle by walking behind or alongside it or cycling down the side. People are so impatient and selfish. Sign of the times I suppose.