Longer Lorries approved for use in the UK

Government Approved the Use of Longer Lorries on the Road

From the 31st May, any business in England, Scotland and Wales is permitted to use longer lorries on the road. The government hope this will make businesses more efficient and cut emissions. Many fleet owners are welcoming the approval as it results in more goods being transported using fewer vehicles. The Department for Transport (DfT) claims that vehicles would help businesses become more productive. The bakery chain Greggs has been using longer lorries since 2013 and states it can carry 15% more goods than a usual lorry trailer. However, anti-longer lorries campaigns have also been surfacing amid fears that the rear end of the lorry covers a much larger area putting pedestrians and cyclists at increased risk. Currently, there are already 3,000 of these longer lorries in use, which have been trialled since 2011. They are 18.55m long. This is about 2.05m longer than the standard-sized lorry.

Longer Lorries Resulting in Fewer Trips for Fleets

According to the government, the decision is expected to yield economic benefits amounting to £1.4 billion while reducing road traffic. Longer lorries on the road will remove one standard-size trailer for every 12 trips. Over the span of 11 years, it is estimated that these vehicles will prevent the release of 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The Department for Transport (DfT) also highlighted that these vehicles have been involved in significantly fewer personal injury collisions, with approximately 61% fewer incidents compared to conventional lorries.

Tackling Emissions with Longer Lorries on the Road

However, the Campaign for Better Transport said the change was a "deeply retrograde step" which will "do nothing to tackle carbon emissions or air pollution". Additionally, spokesman Norman Baker adds that the bigger "tail swing" of the lorries presented a "danger to other road users and pedestrians". He adds: "Rather than longer lorries, the government should be working to ensure more freight is moved by rail - an efficient, safe and clean alternative with just one freight train capable of removing up to 129 lorries from our roads." In July 2021, a report commissioned by the government disclosed that incidents involving longer lorries resulted in injuries to 58 individuals from 2012 to 2020. As per the new regulations, operators will have a legal obligation to conduct risk assessments and ensure that suitable routes are chosen. The longer lorries will adhere to the same weight limit of 44 tonnes as those utilising standard trailers. Nevertheless, a representative from the Road Haulage Association encouraged the government to take additional steps by raising the permissible weight to 48 tonnes. "This will be increasingly important when we roll out zero-emission trucks to compensate for the increased weight from batteries," he said.