Regular Biglorryblog readers will know that I have been showing more than a passing interest in longer semi-trailers, not least since the Department for Transport finally launched a desk-based study into their potential benefits back in July. However, a number of other EU countries have already decided to conduct practical on-road trials with them, with Germany leading the way with some 300 built by Kogel. Now, thanks to Dominic Perry, deputy editor of Motor Transport I learn that the Italians are getting in on the act too with 15m long units. And Dom being a gentleman has very kindly allowed me to run the crux of his report on BLB. Now click through here for the full story....
And here they are. The longer semi-trailers in Italy are being run under what's called Progetto Diciotto (that's yer actual Italian for 'Project 18') and relates to the fact that the longer 15m trailers give the artic an overall length of 18m...capeche? Six Italian logistics companies are taking place in the trials including Gruppo Arcese (pictured above) which has had one on the road since May. The main promoters of P18 are Iveco, along with the Italian trailer makers, the Italian Ministry of Transport and the Italian equivalent of the SMMT.
Being the kind of bight, pro-active young bloke that he is Dom has already spoken to Eleuterio Arcese, president of Gruppo Arcese who confirms that while it is still only a pilot project his company has already ordered 14 longer semis, comprising 4 box-bodied versions and 10 curtainsiders--and that's one of them above.
So far the company has not experienced any particular problems running the longer semi. And if you get the latest copy of Dom's story in Motor Transport you can also read about how DHL is hoping to run trials with longer semis over here. And my thanks to Dom. Now I have already had quite a few comments back from BLB readers about the viability of longer semis, not least from Roy Larkin, who made a very good argument against them.But what do the rest of you think?
from the outside looking in,i would say that this has got to be the way forward.larger trailers could?make the uk haulage industry financially more viable.all the tree huggers must never forget you cannot rely on rail!