Longer lorries will be allowed on British roads from next month to tackle the driver shortage and cut congestion and emissions.
New laws going before Parliament on Wednesday will permit the use of longer semi-trailer combinations up to 18.55 metres in general use on GB roads from 31 May.
These longer semi-trailers (LSTs) measure up to 2.05 metres longer and can be towed by a lorry.
The Government said the change would boost productivity, needing 8% fewer journeys than current trailers. This is expected to deliver £1.4bn in economic benefits by ensuring more goods are carried on fewer vehicles, taking one standard-size trailer off the road for every 12 trips. However, safety groups have raised concerns about the risks for pedestrians and cyclists, while others have commented on the potential for damage to roadside infrastructure.
An 11-year trial of the LSTs among more than 300 companies in the UK is said to have already proved their productivity benefits. Greggs has been operating them from its National Distribution Centre in Newcastle since the trial began in 2013 and has reported significant efficiency benefits from the additional 15% capacity they’ve given.
The rollout of the LSTs into general use is expected to save thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide. In the trials, Greggs slashed more than 335,000 miles off its annual travel and saved 410 tonnes of carbon per year.
The Department for Transport also said the trial had ensured the safe use of LSTs, demonstrating that they were involved in around 61% fewer personal injury collisions than conventional lorries. Operators will be encouraged to put extra safety checks and training in place and will be legally required to ensure appropriate route plans and risk assessments are made to take the unique specifications of LSTs into account.
Greggs backed the DfT’s comments on safety, saying that its drivers had undertaken additional training and it had monitored accidents, “finding that they are as safe as our standard fleet”.
The move is part of the Government’s 33 actions to address the shortage of HGV drivers and boost recruitment and retention.
Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “It’s fantastic to see this change for our supply chain come into law, resulting in a near £1.4bn boost to the haulage industry and driving economic growth. Let the good times roll as we reduce congestion, lower emissions and enhance the safety of British roads.”
Vehicles which use LSTs will be subject to the same 44-tonne weight limit as those using standard trailers. These new vehicles are also expected to cause less wear on the roads than conventional lorries due to the type of steering axle used.
Alongside Greggs, other major brands rolling out the extended use of these longer semi-trailers include Morrisons, Stobart, Royal Mail and Argos.
Logistics UK has welcomed the move. Chris Yarsley, senior policy manager, said: “The introduction of LSTs into general service will increase the scope and scale of the goods which our industry is able to transport, increasing efficiencies and reducing the environmental impact of delivering for the UK’s economy.
“Over the past few years of the trial, our members have proved that LSTs provide operators with a cost-efficient, environmentally prudent alternative to conventional vehicles and our members remain committed to rolling them out across the wider industry as soon as possible.”
But Cycling UK said the move was “alarming”.
Keir Gallagher, campaigns manager, commented: “At a time when funding for infrastructure to keep people cycling and walking safer has been cut, it’s alarming that longer and more hazardous lorries could now be allowed to share the road with people cycling and walking.
“Before opening the floodgates to longer lorries rolling into our busy town centres and narrow rural lanes, further testing in real life scenarios should have been done to assess and address the risks.”
Concerns have also been raised about the impact on the road infrastructure.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “The safety record shown during the extensive trials is encouraging but one can imagine problems if these lorries leave the strategic roads and end up off the beaten track.
“Particular attention will need to be paid to diversion routes when motorways and major A-roads are closed for repair, as they often are.”
