20% fuel saving per ton-km by switching from 18.75 to 25.25 metre combinations 06 October 2010

In the face of growing congestion and pressure to cut costs and emissions, Volvo Trucks is again calling for increased use of standardised load carriers.

Volvo has been running its EMS (European modular system) for several years, based on using standardised load carriers – such as exchangeable bodies and semitrailers as well as 20- and 40-foot containers – to simplify integration between different traffic modes.

Its system is based on the 25.25 metre truck rigs that have long been in use in Sweden and Finland.

"We are lobbying hard for the EU to adopt 25.25 metre rigs in continental Europe, since this would permit increased use of standardised load carriers and stimulate the growth of intermodal transport," insists Ulf Ehrning, transport analyst at Volvo 3P, Volvo Trucks' development company.

He explains that Volvo Trucks' is currently evaluating EMS tests recently conducted in the Netherlands and Denmark. Soon, he says, it will be time for Germany to test the system.

Critics claim that modular vehicles may steal freight from the railways. However, Stefan Back, chairman of the Road Transport Institute, CLECAT's working group for road haulage, believes there is no conflict.

"There is absolutely no reason to pitch the various transport modes against one another," says Back. "Instead, the focus should be on ensuring that they can develop both individually and together."

And he makes the case for emissions and traffic reduction: "With longer truck combinations, two 25.25 metre rigs can replace three 18.75 metre rigs."

Volvo Trucks' experience is unsurprisingly positive. The firm has been testing 90-tonne 30 metre long timber haulers in regular operation in northern Sweden, and Ehrning comments: "Our tests show a 20% fuel saving per ton-kilometre by switching from regular, European 16.5 or 18.75 metre rigs to 25.25 metre combinations."

And he adds: "If you step up to 30 metre long rigs, you save as much again."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Volvo Group UK Ltd

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