[261010.EN.LAN] Study : EU limits On Trailer Height Would Disrupt U.K Trucking

A PROPOSED EU ban on double-decker truck trailers would cost pallet networks and retail supply chains millions would increase the British annual road transport costs by GBP305 million (US$480 million), according to a new study.


If trailer heights were limited to four metres, the distance travelled by UK-registered semis would rise 4.5 per cent, according to research by Alan McKinnon, a professor at the Logistics Research Centre at Heriot-Watt University near Edinburgh.


The EU legislation, which Conservative UK Transport Minister Mike Penning vows to fight, would standardise the height of all semi-trailers built under Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA).

Industry observers say this will increase the number of trucks on the road, lead to more congestion, undermine operating patterns, cost jobs in UK trailer manufacturing, push-up consumer prices and increase pollution.


The height limit would mean that double-deck trailers - almost unique to the UK and able to carry more cargo than single-deck trailers - would be banned, reported London's International Freighting Weekly.


"Annual road haulage costs would rise by roughly GBP305 million. Switching from double-deck to standard trailers would increase fuel consumption and carbon emissions by a mid-range estimate of 64 per cent," said Prof McKinnon's report. "In terms of its impact on emissions, it would be equivalent to adding 150,000 new cars to Britain's roads."


Double-deck trailers became increasingly popular in the UK because of the fuel savings they generate. "Companies, such as John Lewis, Tesco, B&Q and Boots, operate large fleets of double-deck vehicles. Many have put the double-deck trailer at the heart of their plans to cut carbon emissions and improve the general environmental sustainability of their distribution systems.


"So strong is the business case, in economic and environmental terms, for operating double-deck trailers that they are being used much more extensively across UK supply chains," the report said.
"Between 2004 and 2008, there was a 57 per cent increase in the amount of freight movement in double-deck trailers, measured in tonne-kilometres."
Double-deck trailers are commonly used in the distribution of parcels and palletised traffic, and the legislation would, therefore, impact pallet networks and supermarket supply chains the most, said IFW.


Source : HKSG, 26.10.10