Consultation on next steps for more environmentally friendly haulage

9 Nov 2020 04:22 PM

Government launches 2 consultations following successful trial of longer semi-trailers, which have been shown to cut emissions and boost haulier productivity.

• government launches consultation on introducing longer goods vehicles permanently to Britain’s roads
• trial shows longer semi-trailers (LSTs) reduce haulage miles, emissions and accidents
• consultation on next steps forms part of wider plans by government to decarbonise transport while supporting a green recovery

Longer goods vehicles that increase productivity and reduce haulier emission levels could become a permanent fixture on Britain’s roads as the government yesterday (Monday 9 November 2020) launched a consultation into their future.

Longer than conventional heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) but not heavier, LSTs can carry 3 more rows of supermarket goods cages on each journey compared with existing trailers.

A trial of LSTs that has been underway for the past 7 years has shown that they’ve saved lorry drivers travelling millions of miles – cutting emissions and boosting productivity. In the past year alone, the 2,600 vehicles involved in the trial have saved lorry drivers 33.5 million miles and 48,000 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to taking over 20,000 cars off the road. The results also show the trailers were involved in fewer personal injury collisions compared with standard size HGVs.

Off the back of these positive results, the government has proposed to end the trials early and, through yesterday’s consultation, seek views on whether LSTs should be allowed to permanently operate on roads across the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday said:

Our freight industry keeps the country moving, delivering vital goods and services every single day – which, as we all know, has never been more important than it is now, during the pandemic.

These trials clearly show the benefits for business and the environment of using longer trailers. By determining the next steps to get them on our roads permanently, we can benefit industry and our economy, boost safety and cut emissions.

The Department for Transport also launched a further consultation on proposals to start a trial of slightly heavier HGVs on UK roads, which could see the maximum weight of some HGVs increased by 4 tonnes to 48 tonnes.

The change suggested in the consultation would allow lorries to transport heavier containers direct to or from freight trains, helping to shift more cargo from road-only journeys onto rail, and therefore cutting emissions and congestion on our roads, further demonstrating government commitment to make haulage more environmentally friendly.

The proposed trial would operate on around 10 routes cleared as safe for use by 48-tonne vehicles, and would look at whether it encouraged a shift of goods from road to rail.

The consultations come ahead of the ground-breaking Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which will set out a clear pathway to delivering transport’s contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting net-zero by 2050.

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