Commercial Vehicle Profits to be hit by Mega-Trucks?
Thursday 26 January 2012 Back to Blog
Campaigners have risen concerned about allowing 'mega-trucks' on to UK roads.
Though much of the concern is about taxpayer cost on road maintenance, the impact on congestion could cost industries that rely on commercial vans to, with missed deliveries eating into company profits.
The European Commission has proposed changes which will see 25 metre, 60 tonne trucks driving on roads in consenting member states. In the UK the legal limit is 16.5 metre, 44 tonne trucks, though 18.5 metre trucks have just been given the go ahead this month.
Arguments against the 'mega trucks' centre on road and environment damage together with industry pressure to force current UK haulage companies to adopt the new size of truck to compete with European competitors.
Philippa Edmunds of Freight on Rail said: The UK Government must oppose the EC proposals now, otherwise in reality, it will not be able to resist them in the future. The impact of lorries two metres longer has not even been assessed yet, let alone of an additional eight metres. Allowing mega-trucks will lead to more road fatalities, more congestion and more pollution.
"Bringing mega-trucks to the UK could also cost the taxpayer dearly. Mega-trucks are 50 percent longer and a third heavier than existing HGVs. The cost of adapting road infrastructure, such as strengthening bridges, is likely to run into billions. In Austria, a much smaller country than the UK, adaptation costs have been estimated at €5 billion."
Do you find trucks and associated congestion eats into your profits or do you think it is a non argument?