“Feedback from our customer base is that the trial has been a huge success to date, and while the LST doesn’t suit everyone’s operation, it has brought enquiries and requests for more licences as hauliers see the benefits and additional flexibility these trailers offer,” says SDC’s commercial director Paul Bratton.
He adds: “Where operation allows the full utilisation of a longer length trailer, the reduction in the number of journeys is a real fuel saving, which can only be of benefit to greenhouse gas reduction targets, not to mention an increase in profitability for the operator.”
The DfT introduced the scheme in 2012, to monitor and evaluate whether anticipated environmental and economic benefits could be achieved using 14.6m and 15.65m LSTs.
The latest annual report, by Risk Solutions in September 2016, says the trial has recorded 70% fewer collisions and casualties per kilometre, compared to the average for standard articulated lorries.
