Longer semi-trailers finally get green light

By Carol Millett

Longer semi-trailers of up to 18.55m – more than 2m above the standard size – will be allowed on Britain’s roads from 31 May, the UK government has announced.

The long-awaited move follows an 11-year road trial involving almost 3,000 longer semi-trailers (LSTs) and over 300 operators including major brands such as Greggs, Morrisons, Stobart, Royal Mail and Argos.

The DfT said giving the green light to the use of LSTs will deliver a £1.4bn boost for the UK’s economy, strengthen the supply chain, improve productivity and save 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over 11 years.

The trial has shown that the use of LSTs will see the same volume

DP World readies Coventry upgrade

DP World Logistics is to occupy an almost 600,000sq ft building on an industrial estate in Coventry after warehouse developer SEGRO completes complex remediation work at the site.

In line with SEGRO’s commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2030, the unit at SEGRO Park Coventry will be developed to high sustainability standards, targeting a ‘BREEAM Excellent’ rating.

The building will include PV panels, an office heated by air source heat pumps, and 20% of car parking spaces are to be fitted with electric vehicle charging facilities.

of goods moved using 8% fewer journeys than current trailers and take one standard-size trailer off the road for every 12 trips.

Under the new legislation, operators will no longer need to apply for a special licence to run a longer semi-trailer, as was the case during the trial period.

Vehicles which use LSTs will be subject to the same 44-tonne weight limit as those using standard trailers.

Operators will be legally required to ensure appropriate route plans and risk assessments are made to take their unique specifications into account.

Aztek Logistics has praised its staff and the loyalty of its customers as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Founded in 2003 by white goods and TV installer Stuart Charter in Letchworth Garden City, the haulier has grown over the years into a £12m turnover business with six warehouses and 40 HGVs.

Its first success came from the support of the Prince’s Trust, which helped Charter get his first 7.5-tonne lorry on the road.

He said: “I started as one man with van and a dream. That one van became two vans and after my first year, I submitted my first accounts of £287,000, which I still have. I learnt a lot from the Prince’s Trust, not least around entrepreneurial pitfalls and dealing with cashflow and finance through factoring.”

XS shows some love to ‘firey’ pal Kerry Anne

Grangemouth’s XS Transport has named one of its new generation DAF XG 530 tractor units after Asset Alliance Group’s Kerry Anne Grogan (pictured) to reward her customer service.

It is one of five new DAFs the Stirlingshire haulier has taken delivery of as part of a fleet renewal programme and it will also be adding a DAF CF 340 FAR 26-tonne curtainsider tail-lift to the fleet later this month. XS boss Alan Taylor said: “Our truck called Kerry Anne was the first one of the five DAFs on the road.

“It looks superb with the black and pink ‘fire’ livery and suits her personality down to a tee.

“The other trucks are named after some of our other drivers’ family members.”