Banking on a change in Europe's length limits

EU states have a certain amount of freedom to set their own domestic limits on truck lengths and weights although international transport limits are for 4m high, 16.5m long, 40 tonne gcw articulated vehicle combinations. Truck and trailer combinations up to 60 tonnes gtw and 25.5m long are familiar in Sweden and Finland. Volvo and Scania are campaigning for wider adoption of the Scandinavian limits, supported by the Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) in Germany. Trials are being conducted in Germany of 22.25-m trucks, suing the seven-axle Giga Liner. Kögel has been given approval to build 300 'Bid Maxx' trailers. These are conventional tri-axle semi-trailers with a length of 14.9m. This could cut Germany's articulated truck traffic by 8%. The Big Maxx costs €5,200 more than of a conventional 13.6m semi-trailer. The Silvertip self-steering axle from UK company Silvertip Design would allow the turning circle to be reduced and the outswing kept to a minimum. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00203122
• Authors:
  • WILCOX, D
• Publication Date: 2006-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 11-13
• Serial:
  • TRANSPORT ENGINEER
  • Publisher: Institute of Road Transport Engineeers
  • ISSN: 0020-3122

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight transportation; Length; Steering; Trucks; Turning traffic; Weight
• Geographic Terms: Germany; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 1112: Freight transport; 8125: Germany; 6488: Length; 1236: Lorry; 1834: Steering (process); 1836: Turning; 8119: United Kingdom; 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01043743
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Mar 9 2007 8:15AM