Longer lorries could be followed by heavier lorries

26/08/2021 | CHRIS AMES

Longer goods vehicles could be permanently allowed on Britain’s roads from as early as next year, the Government has announced.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published its response to its consultation on the introduction of longer-semi trailers (LSTs), with the majority of respondents in favour of their use following a nine-year trial, which ‘found them to be safer, more economical and better for the environment’.

Officials said the vehicles, which can be up to 15.65 metres long, could remove up to one in eight freight journeys by carrying the same amount of cargo in fewer lorries.

The DfT said it will now consider the use of LSTs on Britain’s roads outside trial conditions, and that the vehicles could be rolled out ‘sometime in 2022’.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘This Government is committed to fighting climate change and decarbonising our transport network, and we are working at pace to achieve net zero by 2050.

‘Today’s announcement is a vital step forwards as we work to introduce more environmentally friendly freight to our roads and build back greener.’

The DfT said that road safety ‘continues to be of paramount concern’, and that while the trial showed the use of LSTs caused fewer collisions, additional mitigations are under review to ensure hauliers and road users are kept even safer.

The Government will also soon launch a separate trial using heavier-than-normal, 48-tonne lorries, which will be able to transport heavier containers directly to and from rail depots so goods can be transported across the country by train.

Officials said that the current 44 tonnes maximum weight makes it difficult to carry heavier goods to rail depots, meaning goods are dispersed between more lorries to be taken to their end destination by road.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Driver/Loader

Scale 5 (scp 16-19) £29,572 to £31,067 per annum
We aim to continually improve the services provided to local people Clitheroe, Lancashire
Recruiter: Ribble Valley Borough Council

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an SCQF Level 5 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic NMC NE team. Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an SCQF Level 5 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic NMC NE team. Kinross, Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Electrician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for two Permanent Electricians to join our dynamic Area 12 M&R team Tingley, Wakefield
Recruiter: Amey

Site Manager - Highways

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for Three Permanent Site Managers. Gloucestershire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£26,917 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Area 7 team. Leicestershire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an SCQF Level 5 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic NMC NE team. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an SCQF Level 5 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic NMC NE team. Nairn, Highland
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,296 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Sheffield team. Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for an SCQF Level 5 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic NMC SW team. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,097 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Area 10 team. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,097 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Area 10 team. Rochdale, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Amey

Assistant Street Works and Permitting Officer

£26,409 - £29,093
Do you want to make a difference to how Street Works are managed within Lincolnshire? Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Engineer HDM (Career Grade)

£31,067 - £44,711
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through Highways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Apprentice

£23,097 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Area 10 team. Preston, Lancashire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Area 12 team. Knottingley, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Area 12 team. Tingley, Wakefield
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Area Steward - WMF1699e

£37,035 - £37,938
As an Area Steward you will be responsible for the supervision of up to 15 members of staff Milnthorpe, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Apprentice

£23,926 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Operative Apprentice to join our dynamic Area 12 team. Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Apprentice

£24,282 (subject to 2025 review)
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Level 3 OLE Apprentice to join our dynamic Eastern & Southern team. Uddingston, Glasgow
Recruiter: Amey
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW