Hauliers call for longer lorries

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The UK's road hauliers are calling for longer and heavier lorries to be trialled for certain types of freight.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is keen to help the industry reduce transport costs that have shot up with rising fuel prices.

But it also says that the move would have an environmental benefit, reducing carbon emissions.

Other groups argue that bigger lorries would see more cargo sent by road than rail and could cause more congestion.

'Win-win scenario'

The current maximum length of an articulated lorry is 16 metres, according to the FTA. But it would like this extended to up to 25 metres.

The FTA said that if one super-lorry was substituted for two of the current maximum-weight 44-tonne vehicles, the calculated carbon dioxide saving would be about 30%.

"The number of trucks needed to move a given volume of goods, and the number of miles travelled would be halved, " said Chris Yarsley, the FTA's manager of road freight and enforcement policy.

As these vehicles would be built from scratch, they would be built to next generation emission standards, he added.

"They would create no greater road wear to roads or bridges, as the additional weight would be spread across a greater number of axles. A win-win scenario."

Congestion worries

The UK Department of Transport is scheduled to publish a report it commissioned into the merits or problems of such super-vehicles in July.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is one group opposed to the concept.

"Most people realise now that if you build or widen roads to reduce congestion, you end up generating more motor traffic which leads to more congestion," said a CPRE spokesman.

"The same goes for making lorries larger so as to reduce carbon emissions. You end up generating greater use of lorries - whether taking freight off railways or through further centralisation of distribution hubs - and greater carbon emissions," he added.