IRU joins battle against trailer heigh restrictions
November 9, 2011
The UK’s Freight Transport Association’s fight against EU proposals to limit the height of future semi-trailers to just 4 metres has been joined by the International Road Transport Union (IRU).
The IRU, a global federation with associate members in 74 countries, has urged European Commissioners to rethink proposals to harmonise height limits for single-deck trailers, which, industry argues, would harm industry, increase lorry miles and fly in the face of carbon reduction aims.
Last week IFW reported how the FTA warned a future four meter height limit will have a “catastrophic impact” on many logistics contracts and wreck the efficiencies achieved through the use of high-cube trailers in the UK.
James Hookham, FTA’s Managing Director of Policy and Communications, said yesterday: “IRU’s support shows that the loss of a national trailer height exemption is not just a UK issue. Far from it, the estimated cost of harmonising trailer heights in the way being proposed would amount to around €800 million every year for those affected; an additional cost that Europe could certainly do without right now.
“We have worked hard to influence the Department for Transport, MEPs and Commission officials aware of the efficiencies and carbon savings achieved in the UK through the use of ‘high-cube’ and double deck trailers and this ’harmonisation at all costs’ attitude must be abandoned immediately.”
Earlier this month, FTA announced a 5 stage campaign plan to drive home its message. The measures included: letters to the UK Secretary of State for Transport and EU Transport Commissioner, briefings for MEPs , arranging visits to UK depots for European Commission staff, and organizing a rally in Brussels to consolidate support for a higher limit and opposition to the existing proposals among other member States .
Hookham said: “Our plan is already going strong and with IRU now onside our message will hopefully resonate even more loudly in Europe and we will see this proposal killed off before any serious damage is done.”
Courtesy of IFW
