RE: Are lorries about to get bigger?
Monday 6th November 2006
Are you ready for bigger lorries on the roads? According to one story, the Government could be about to increase the weight and size of trucks allowed onto the roads.
Are lorries about to get bigger?
Govt to make decision on 60-tonners
To bring the UK into line with the rest of the EU, we'd have to accept 60-tonne lorries over 25 metres long -- the current max is 44 tonnes and 18.75 metres.
But it won't happen unless the findings from the Transport Research Laboratory, to whom the Government has looked for guidance on the matter, agree that it's a good idea.
On the one hand, it could mean fewer lorries and improved commerce. On the other hand, truck queues could just get longer...
Discussion
Yup. the ruts that are in the M6 are really quite bad now. I agree with other posters that my car too twitches as it falls into these ruts or pops out again.
So we know the roads are being damaged by 44 tonnes.....so lets bow again to European parliament and accept 60 tonners. Not clearly thought out this one eh???
On the subject of less lorries....when the limit was 32 tonnes was there proportionately more lorries on the road (ie: 37% more) and therefore do we really beleive there will be 36% less with the move to 60 tonnes.
Just thought of the best way for me to drive now though....keep to 80mph plus and stay in the outside lane, just keep up with whatever is in front of me. no ruts there
Keep smiling !!
So we know the roads are being damaged by 44 tonnes.....so lets bow again to European parliament and accept 60 tonners. Not clearly thought out this one eh???
On the subject of less lorries....when the limit was 32 tonnes was there proportionately more lorries on the road (ie: 37% more) and therefore do we really beleive there will be 36% less with the move to 60 tonnes.
Just thought of the best way for me to drive now though....keep to 80mph plus and stay in the outside lane, just keep up with whatever is in front of me. no ruts there
Keep smiling !!
Lord-Flasheart said:
I might be wrong but on hot days in summer don't these 60 tonners damage the road (like uneven road surface where the tires contact because it compresses the road)?
Try driving on the E19 Holland-Belgium the inside lane is like a train track , 2 deep groves which really desturb the car as you cross them
M400UK said:
There should be less trucks on the road and the haulage should be moved by train instead!
Yes but the government recieve so much money from the hauliers they won't dare force freight on to the rails, my depot overlooks a massive (disused) goods yard which was once the hub of North Lincolnshire for rail - short distance lorry link ups.
I think it is Germany that make companies pay a high surcharge if they wish to transport their goods soley by the road network.
Marki said:
Lord-Flasheart said:
I might be wrong but on hot days in summer don't these 60 tonners damage the road (like uneven road surface where the tires contact because it compresses the road)?
Try driving on the E19 Holland-Belgium the inside lane is like a train track , 2 deep groves which really desturb the car as you cross them
Yeah agree, Belgian motorways have the worst surface condition in Northern Europe. Strange that they don't seem to get this problem in France, Italy and Germany. Maybe they resurface more often?
Edited by t1grm on Monday 6th November 10:30
M400UK said:
There should be less trucks on the road and the haulage should be moved by train instead!
what he said when i lived in austarila most stuff was hauled by rail and in tasmania there were no comuter trains it was all freight
also the ammount of time my poor car has almost been side swiped on roundabouts by the current size off lorries might be time to trade for a challanger tank
von stig said:
M400UK said:
There should be less trucks on the road and the haulage should be moved by train instead!
what he said when i lived in austarila most stuff was hauled by rail and in tasmania there were no comuter trains it was all freight
also the ammount of time my poor car has almost been side swiped on roundabouts by the current size off lorries might be time to trade for a challanger tank
I've seen some of those Aussie Road Trains on TV. By Christ they're big and long
And how long does it take to over take one when you actually start the process, and that's supposing you can actually get passed it in the first place!! Also, i use the M6 toll road sometimes and it's a lovely road right now so i don't mind if they pop the price up a bit more to put off haulage companies from using it. Edited by scoobiewrx on Monday 6th November 11:25
t1grm said:
Marki said:
Lord-Flasheart said:
I might be wrong but on hot days in summer don't these 60 tonners damage the road (like uneven road surface where the tires contact because it compresses the road)?
Try driving on the E19 Holland-Belgium the inside lane is like a train track , 2 deep groves which really desturb the car as you cross them
Yeah agree, Belgian motorways have the worst surface condition in Northern Europe. Strange that they don't seem to get this problem in France, Italy and Germany. Maybe they resurface more often?
Edited by t1grm on Monday 6th November 10:30
Yea that's what I was trying to say
The reason for this 60 tonnes instead of 44 tonnes is probably because high fuel prices have had an impact on the haulage industry. Allowing nearly 50% more weight per trip would improve the economy for the company (like less amount spent on fuel) and would pay off in other costs too e.g. need less drivers etc
As for the France, Italy and Germany not suffering this problem, I would personally of thought it was down to the construction of the road e.g. deeper foundations.
Edited by Lord-Flasheart on Monday 6th November 11:29
Edited by Lord-Flasheart on Monday 6th November 16:25
I seem to recall a statisctic where if there was a cars only accident on the motorway you were very likely to be OK but as soon as a lorry is involved it's 7 times more likely to be a fatality.
I wonder what the stopping distance from 65 is of a 44 tonner let alone a 60 tonner??
Get freight back on the rails I say.
I wonder what the stopping distance from 65 is of a 44 tonner let alone a 60 tonner??
Get freight back on the rails I say.
bertie said:
I seem to recall a statisctic where if there was a cars only accident on the motorway you were very likely to be OK but as soon as a lorry is involved it's 7 times more likely to be a fatality.
I wonder what the stopping distance from 65 is of a 44 tonner let alone a 60 tonner??
Get freight back on the rails I say.
I wonder what the stopping distance from 65 is of a 44 tonner let alone a 60 tonner??
Get freight back on the rails I say.
And 90% of the time the lorry driver walks away from it.
On the M180 earlier this year I was stationary in traffic only to see the car next to me rammed underneath a lorry by a lorry that didn't see that we had stopped, the guy was killed instantly and the lorry driver just got out the cab and brushed himself off saying that it was close one, he never saw the car and never realised it was stuck under the lorry in front of him with the occupant dead.
Lorrys should be manufactured with the driver sat at the same height as car drivers, I bet that would steady them up a bit.
r5gttgaz said:
On the M180 earlier this year I was stationary in traffic only to see the car next to me rammed underneath a lorry by a lorry that didn't see that we had stopped, the guy was killed instantly and the lorry driver just got out the cab and brushed himself off saying that it was close one, he never saw the car and never realised it was stuck under the lorry in front of him with the occupant dead.
My sons 3 year old friend, his 18month old brother and their mother went this way in a accident @ Black Cat on the A1. The eastern European driver was messing about with his phone and didn't even make an attempt to stop for the stationary traffic. It took 5 hours to put out the fire and only then they realised there was another car underneath the lorry with the tragic consequences. I make it a rule never to be ahead or behind a lorry. With these 60 ton monsters together with muppets behind the wheel I shall not be changing my driving style.
With the traffic poll being replaced by scameras, it is allowing the standard of driving done by *professional* drivers to sink in to the pits.
Anyone see the news article about the huge container ship docking in to Felixstowe? I cant wait for all of that Chinese rubbish to go down the A14...
scoobiewrx said:
I've seen some of those Aussie Road Trains on TV. By Christ they're big and long
And how long does it take to over take one when you actually start the process, and that's supposing you can actually get passed it in the first place!! There is virtually no traffic out there so it isn't a problem, literally if you see one other car all day then it's a busy day for road traffic. The trucks are theoretically limited to around 100km/h and cars on that particular highway are basically unrestricted in terms of speed limits and if you cooperate with the truck drivers, via CB or light signals then they will usually help you out by signalling when it's safe to pass.
Road_Terrorist said:
scoobiewrx said:
I've seen some of those Aussie Road Trains on TV. By Christ they're big and long
And how long does it take to over take one when you actually start the process, and that's supposing you can actually get passed it in the first place!! There is virtually no traffic out there so it isn't a problem, literally if you see one other car all day then it's a busy day for road traffic. The trucks are theoretically limited to around 100km/h and cars on that particular highway are basically unrestricted in terms of speed limits and if you cooperate with the truck drivers, via CB or light signals then they will usually help you out by signalling when it's safe to pass.
Sounds good to me...where do i sign
Laughing at the "more revenue to the government" argument.
Have a look at foreign lorries & the size of the fuel tanks, they do NOT fuel up this side of the channel.
Am of the opinion that the driving standards of foreign lorry drivers is the pits. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that they can do what they like, as "Policing by Camera" avoids them, as their rego is not on the DVLA computer. Plenty seem to disobey SPECS. Am as likely to be killed by 40 tons as by 60 tons, but UK haulage industry has been hung out enough, and really does not need another nail in its coffin
Have a look at foreign lorries & the size of the fuel tanks, they do NOT fuel up this side of the channel.
Am of the opinion that the driving standards of foreign lorry drivers is the pits. Probably has a lot to do with the fact that they can do what they like, as "Policing by Camera" avoids them, as their rego is not on the DVLA computer. Plenty seem to disobey SPECS. Am as likely to be killed by 40 tons as by 60 tons, but UK haulage industry has been hung out enough, and really does not need another nail in its coffin
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