LONGER AND HEAVIER LORRIES TWO CONSULTATIONS LAUNCHED

As part of plans to promote a more environmentally friendly haulage sector the government has recently announced the launch of consultations on changes to regulations affecting transport vehicles.

The first of these consultations considers the maximum length permitted for semi-trailers. Under current construction and use regulations the maximum standard length for a trailer is 13.6 metres, the proposals would increase this to 15.65 metres, giving an overall maximum vehicle length (i.e. including the tractor unit) of 18.55 meters.

A trial looking at the use of such vehicles has already been running for the last 7 years, the Government considers that this has been successful and is consulting on allowing such vehicles to be more widely used and what controls would be required, for example additional driver training.

You can find more information and respond to the consultation, which runs until 1st February 2021, via the Gov.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ending-the-longer-semi-trailer-trial

The second consultation looks at proposals to trial increasing the maximum weight of HGV’s carrying intermodal freight from 44 tonnes to 48 tonnes. The proposed trial would operate on 10 routes which have been identified as being suitable.

You can find more information and respond to the consultation via the Gov.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/heavier-intermodal-freight-trial