Last one for today, while the UK Department for Transport ('for' transport... That's a laugh) continues to shilly-shally over Longer Heavier Vehicles and relaxing the current artic length rules word reaches Biglorryblog that the Polish Government isn't so squeamish as it's just issued 300 special permits (with no time limit either) for 300 extended trailers with a length of 14.92 metres for national transport. The semi-trailers, extended by 1.30m will feature in what's described by German trailer maker Kögel www.koegel.com as "...A modal investigation in Poland, monitored by the Motor Vehicle Technical Institute, Instytut Transportu Samochodowego, in Warsaw."
And not surprisingly, with its own Big-MAXX trailer ready to fit the bill Kögel is playing major part in the trials. Indeed, The German manufacturer will receive 150 of the issued permits for the supply of Big-MAXX trailers to Polish transport companies while the remaining 150 will got to the Polish manufacturer Wielton. The special permits for extended trailers will cost 800 Euros per year, per vehicle, but have unlimited validity. Now click through here for more on the trials!
According the German trailer maker: "After completion of the investigations, the survey by the institute is intended to be used as the basis of an order at European level to change the dimensions of semi-trailers in accordance with the lengths tested in the large-scale investigation. The approval of this large-scale investigation by the government corresponded to an application by Kögel..."
Kögel adds: "There is already great interest in other European countries in the concept of a trailer extended by 1.30 metres, like the one presented by Kögel as early as 2005. Whilst a countrywide large-scale investigation incorporating 300 vehicles of this type has been running in Germany since 2006, the Czech Government has recently agreed the fundamental approval of extended trailers in issuing an individual special permit. The permit has to be renewed every three months and costs the equivalent of approximately 220 Euro for each three month period. The number of permits is unlimited. This means that Czech transport companies can use the Big-MAXX for national transport without any restrictions. There is no limitation as to routes, the same as in Poland."
It goes on to add: "Italy is also testing extended trailers with a length of 15 metres. The government agreed to a test using 15 vehicles in April. The permit for manufacture was issued to the four Italian manufacturers Merker, Viberti, Rolfo and Omar. Interest has also be expressed in the concept by the Netherlands, Great Britain [well we'll see how much interest it really is-BLB] and Spain. The Kögel Big-MAXX trailers can be licensed in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia without any constraints, without additional approval costs and without any limits as to numbers."
And having developed Big-MAXX, Kögel says it "...has been throwing its full weight behind proposed changes to the length restrictions of semi-trailers in Europe since 2005, so that at least part of the ever increasing transport volume can be absorbed without additional strain on the roads or investment in infrastructure. The Big-MAXX can transport 37 pallets instead of the previous 33, thus offering a considerable reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per transported pallet. The vehicles fulfil the design-led European circulatory regulations for motor vehicles and, with the exception of the overall length, all the other registration regulations. As such, no modifications to the infrastructure are required for the Europe-wide deployment of the Big-MAXX. In addition, according to the estimates of the Allgemeinen Deutschen Automobilclubs ADAC (German Automobile Club) no impaired traffic safety is expected by the use of the extended trailer. Moreover, with its rail-loading version Big-MAXX rail, Kögel has successfully demonstrated that the extended trailer is compatible with the current pocket wagon of the combination traffic operator and therefore is fundamentally suited to intermodal traffic in Europe".
Kögel offers the Big-MAXX in four different versions. In addition to the Big-MAXX with standard semi-trailer mounting height and tarpaulin body, this model is also available as a rail-loading semi-trailer Big-MAXX rail and as a refrigerated version Big-MAXX Cool. The Big-MAXX Mega was developed specially for volume-oriented transport. In addition, it can can be supplied as a platform version, for transporting structural steel matting, bars, pipes or fabricated concrete structures. Meanwhile, back in Blighty what is the DfT doing about longer trailers? Errrr... Conducting a 'study'. Don't hold your breath.
Brian,
An extra 4 pallets? But who will benefit? Not the haulier, that's for sure. The customer will simply expect the extra 4 pallets to be carried. And what benefit to the UK? I can't see an extra standard UK pallet fitting into that space. And that rear overhang looks really scary to me.
Hmm we've had trailers this length over here in the States for years now. I used to drive around Manhattan New York with one. Now the norm over here would be 16.15 meters to you.
Might need the bogie back a bit further, I think that amount of overhang is going to catch a few people out. Surely the B Double ( or Pocket B-Double)is worth a trial over there.
Bogie ?? what I actually meant was tri.
Leave trailer lengths the same but how about an extra metre for us drivers to live in? But then that would only benifit the driver so no chance of that!