Red tape threat to LHV road trial

By Carol Millett

A government consultation on the proposed trial of Longer Heavier Vehicles (LHVs) is using an application form that is so “unnecessarily and extremely convoluted” that it could risk the trial getting the go-ahead, according to one LHV expert.

Kevin Buck, MD of HazComp, who has long been lobbying for a UK trial of LHVs, has raised concerns about the complexity of a form, which the DfT has sent out to the 85 hauliers that have expressed interest in taking part.

The hauliers have been asked to use the form – an MS Excel spreadsheet – to give examples of how their businesses would use LHVs on the trial.

These examples will be used by DfT to determine industry demand and the feasibility of running a UK road trial.

However, as MT went to press, only three of the 85 companies had submitted a total of nine examples of LHV use.

A DfT spokesman rejected

The RHA is to focus its resources on a number of newly defined priority areas for future campaigning to help better support its members and the wider sector.

The priority areas it has identified are: skills; driver facilities; environment; international operation; costs and regulation; and infrastructure.

The RHA has also set a number of policy goals to chart its progress in each of its priority areas.

Buck’s claims. “We flatly rule out the idea that the process is somehow conspiratorially difficult,” he said. “The Department will carefully consider all of the outcomes from the currently ongoing study work in making a decision as to whether it is appropriate to proceed to on-road trials of LHVs.”

For example, a key goal under its driver facilities priorities is to secure planning rules reform to make it easier for developers to build new truck stops.

The association also aims to persuade ministers to announce an HGV fuel duty rebate under its costs and regulation priorities.