UK 'must maintain current trailer height allowance'

Date: 25/7/2011

The UK's current system dictating the height of trailers must be maintained.

Concerns have been raised by the European Commission's suggestion that the country be brought in line with several others in the continent under the Whole Vehicle Type Approval system, where there is a standard allowance of four metres for all new lorry trailers.

However, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has been garnering the opinions of representatives from several operatives within the postal, bakery and retail sectors, among others, revealing that some of the units they use would be outlawed under the plans.

Meanwhile, Andy Mair, the FTA's Head of Engineering Policy, claims that the environmental and cost-saving benefits attached to higher carriers would also be lost should the rule be put in place.

Although the Commission later announced that it would consider setting a height limit of 4.88 metres for double-decker trailers, the Association suggests that this is not enough.

"The truth is that there is a substantial chunk of our logistics sector that operate trailers over 4.88 metres. Ideally, we would like the height limit for all trailers, not just double-deck, to be set to at least 4.95 metres," Mr Mair notes.

Earlier, the Federation of Small Businesses said that should the Commission's plans go ahead, the UK would be denied the eco and economical benefits provided by its double-decker fleet and so must be exempt.

Posted by Mary Treen