Question: Why are we waiting for a decision as to whether we can trial Longer, Heavier, Vehicles (LHVs) in the UK? Answer: Because as ever we're waiting for the jolly old Department for Transport to make a decision. Oohhh steady, let's not rush in to things Minister!
Having been quite rightly been forced to take LHVs seriously (not least through the hard work of Dick Denby et al) the DfT promptly leapt into action last year and....commissioned a joint study from Professor Alan McKinnon at Heriot-Watt University and the people at TRL. The consultants were due to report in March and here we are still waiting.
Meanwhile, the Danes (who've also been looking at 25.25m/60-tonne LHVs along with the Dutch and the Germans) have proposed a change to their regulations that would allow them from early next year---but based on the typically Scandinavian rigid+convertor dolly+plus 13.6m semi trailer (pictured above) OR an artic pulling a drawbar trailer with non-steering axles (pictured below).
However, B-doubles like the Denby Eco-Link pictured at the start of the story (i.e. a tractor pulling a short 'A' trailer with a fifth-wheel over the bogie with a regular 13.6-metre long trailer hitched on to it) will need a command steer system to satify the Danes. Which is good news for Denby as that's exactly what his Eco-Link has got---in fact the 25.25m long rig can turn within the same 'corridor' as a regular 16.5m artic. And here's a picture of a similarly 'steerable' B-Double, this time from Fliegl, which shows it turning.
So when WILL we hear from the DfT? Well the survey results, which would confirm (or otherwise) the case for testing LHVs in the UK, were due to be published in March. But that date came and went. Then they were going to be out by the end of the summer. Now it looks like we'll get the results "by October". Don't hold your breath...
Of course we shouldn't be surprised that Ministers at the DfT are treating it like a hot potato, even if their civil servants are up for it. None of the new boys (and girls) at the Department are going to want to stand up in Parliament and risk the wrath of hysterical, lorry-loathing backbenchers (or backwoodsmen in the Lords) for the sake of LHVs. But courage Camille! You know testing LHVs make sense. Why? Because if we don't test the theory that they can save on road space, cut emissions-per-tonne and reduce the overall number of HGVs on our roads then we'll never know will we? So what are you afraid of...that they might actually work? Imagine that...
Brian,
Wouldn't it be easier for the EU to be involved with LHV's? I thought the EU was about commonality, not each country conducting its own trials and rules? After all just about everything else that might be perceived by the public is blamed on the EU. Will legal LHV's from one EU country be permitted to travel to other EU countries under the current legislation? If so, that should put the cat amongst the cabotage pigeons and be interesting getting on and off the train!
Best wishes,
Roy.
BLB
Call me old fashioned but I am not an admirer of longer vehicles I think the whole idea sucks.
Better those enthusiasts take a business studies course paying particular attention to 'how to screw more money from your customer' or even better try loading in both directions.
As for the vehicles themselves,give me one and a brake tester for an hour and I should be able to bury this idea.
I believe the Dutch are enthusiastic,wonderful,excellent for the flower boys,anyone seen a flower lorry that actually has a speed limiter that works.
Double trailer round the M25 at 60 plus,get real people.
The Boss