Irish eyes worry about implications of trailer height restriction 08 November 2013

Freight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) has told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications that banning vehicles over 4.65m high from Ireland's roads will "substantially increase the total number of vehicle movements".

The organisation is also warning that the move – under proposed amendments to Directive 96.53/EC – would "have a huge impact on a wide variety of freight operators", pointing out that many operators regularly use high-cube trailers.

Neil McDonnell, general manager of FTAI, acknowledges a requirement to legislate for maximum vehicle weights and dimensions, and also supports a maximum standard vehicle height of 4.65m, but wants the committee to go for a controlled permit regime for operators of high vehicles on trunking routes – similar to the abnormal loads regime that currently exists among local authorities.

"FTA Ireland was pleased with the degree of engagement by TDs on the environmental and economic impact of imposing height restrictions on all distribution vehicles in the national fleet," comments McDonnell.

"FTA Ireland was encouraged that the Committee gave such an open hearing to [our] request for a special permit regime for designated vehicles on defined or fixed routes – but, as the abnormal loads regime is highly variable between local authorities, this would require standardisation."

Meanwhile, McDonnell says FTAI does supported some of the amendments proposed to Directive 96/53/EC – in particular encouraging the use of hybrid and multi-fuel vehicles, as well as aerodynamic and fuel-efficient vehicles.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Freight Transport Association Ltd

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