News

After weeks of dithering and uncertainty, the government is expected to announce a study into running longer semi-trailers on UK roads after rejecting the idea of longer, heavier vehicles (LHVs) last year. Back in October, the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed to Commercial Motor that it is considering authorising longer semi-trailers as part of its freight strategy.

Since then, it has remained tight-lipped on the issue, but a spokeswoman tells CM that the report should be completed by the autumn, "subject to the successful contracting of the Longer Semi-Trailer Study". She adds: "The study will be looking into the potential benefits and impact of extending the length of articulated HGVs, but not the weight." An LHV trial was rejected by the government mainly because of the threat it would pose to the rail freight industry.

The Road Haulage Association's policy director, Jack Semple, says the industry is keen to contribute to the study: "Nine months ago, Ruth Kelly killed off the debate overLHVs. We have made it clear on several occasions that we think it  was regrettable."

Despite members giving mixed reactions to the idea, Semple says the industry needs clarity and information in order to make an informed decision: "We don't know any of the details," he adds. "There's a fair bit of confusion, we don't know exactly what's proposed. It's my belief that the views of the industry will modify and be influenced particularly when they see the detail. What we want to happen is a proper debate, we don't want the industry to get any surprises or feel it has had no opportunity to think about the issue."

Freight on Rail campaigner Phillipa Edmunds says she is disappointed the government is looking at semi-trailer lengths because "the government's own figures on a logistics perspective showed that carbon dioxide emissions from rail are around four times less per tonne carried than road".