The express delivery arm of DHL could run longer heavier vehicles (LHVs) if the government gives them the green light, says its engineering director David Potter. Potter was speaking last week at a Fraikin-sponsored Motor Transport round table on improving efficiency in operation. He said a go-ahead would bring significant benefits:
"We think we would get a reduction of 20-25% in fuel consumption over two regular tractor units and trailers. It is worth looking at trials." However, fellow
express operator TNT was less keen. Duncan Davies, general manager road, linehaul and strategy said: "Within a constrained sortation window, loading a bigger vehicle does cause us some problems.
"We have tried double-deck trailers on our run to Inverness and found we couldn't get the benefit out of the additional space because we didn't have time to load them." Potter emphasised the LHVs will not be used on general distribution, but specific night-trunking routes and that there is a significant environmental benefit from their use.
Professor Alan McKinnon of Heriot Watt University is conducting a 'desk-based' study on LHVs for the DfT.
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