Stretching across the highway
Final chance to join trial to boost freight capacity
More freight operators are to be given the chance to join a trial allowing them to use longer vehicles to transport goods on UK roads, providing a boost to trade and industry.
The government’s semi-trailer trial was launched in 2012 and enabled freight operators to bid for a share of 1,800 vehicle allocations.
Around 1,400 longer semi-trailers are now on the road or under construction following another round of bids in 2013, with 400 allocations still available.
Operators now have four weeks from today to apply for the remaining trailers, with applications open to both operators already in the trial and new hauliers. The aim is to get the full quota of 1,800 on the road as quickly as possible.
Transport Minister Claire Perry said: “This is the last chance for freight operators to take part in a scheme that is helping hauliers boost trade and industry […] I’d like to see all of these allocations used so we can see fewer unnecessary journeys on our roads.”
James Hookham, the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) managing director for policy and communications, said: “The results of the trial so far have been encouraging and we are keen that those operators who can put these trailers into use on work for which they are suitable should be able to do so.”
The trial is also cutting traffic and carbon emissions. The second annual report on the trial of longer semi-trailers published in June 2014 shows that between 600,000 and 900,000 vehicle kilometres have been saved by use of the longer semi-trailers in the trial so far and the 10-year trial is expected to deliver overall benefits of an estimated £33 million.
Application packs for the trial can be downloaded HERE
