LHV Trailer Leaflet.pdf - Road Haulage Association

Proposed High Volume Semi-Trailer Lengths

Increased road freight capacity
as a vehicle for reduction in congestion
Background
Stobart Group is a listed company comprising a series of complementary
businesses centred on environmentally responsible multimodal logistics.
The businesses employ over 5,300 people in more than 40 UK locations,
operating a fleet of 1,800 trucks and an award winning daily Midlands-
Scotland rail freight service.
Led by the iconic Eddie Stobart road haulage business, the Group has
been at the forefront of industry moves to improve efficiency.
The Company’s drive to cut wasteful empty miles through shared
user agreements has seen the fleet achieve 83% loaded running,
augmented by advanced GPS driven traffic planning that ensures the
most efficient use of every vehicle in the fleet.
The Future of Articulated Transport
Stobart strategic thinking has identified a uniquely effective, ‘painless’ means
to significantly reduce pollution and carbon footprint and the number of
haulage vehicles on the road whilst actually reducing road damage without
increasing fuel consumption.
The Company’s innovative proposal is the introduction of new semitrailers.
The new design is less than a metre longer, yet through a more
efficient proportion actually offers a 13% increase in capacity. These trailers
feature rear wheel steering which combines reduced road wear with
Current and proposed LGV specifications
improved manoeuvrability, allowing the turning circle to remain fully
compliant with current legislation.
The Costs
Of course all the advantages of the longer trailer do come at a cost to
business; however at just £1,500 per trailer this is negligible and is quickly
offset by the improved product-to-market costs as a result of the
increased capacity. An added advantage is that the design; which keeps
the kingpin in the same position as existing trailers means they are fully
compatible with current tractor units, so there is no need for replacement
of units. The standardised kingpin position will however require a change
in regulations from the current 12,000mm kingpin-to-rear-of-trailer
length to accommodate a 12,950mm measurement.
Limitations of the Rigid/Drawbar configuration
Whilst the rigid/drawbar design might appear to already offer the large
capacity and manoeuvrability of the proposed new extended semi-trailer, it
has severe limitations which make it impractical for large scale road haulage
...The presence of the trailer makes rear door loading of the rigid unit
almost impossible, whilst the inflexibility of semi-permanent trailer
configuration means that trailers cannot be dropped for tipping and
preloading. Finally lack of compatibility with standard load formats means
that, whilst high in cubic capacity, the design wastes significant load space.
The result of these limitations is that today the drawbar is not used by any
major FMCG business.
Current Rigid/Drawbar
Configuration
Overall Length
Deck Length
Gross Weight
Axles
Road Fund License
18,750mm
15,650mm
44 tonnes
Six
£880 pa
Proposed Artic Unit/
Semi-Trailer Configuration
Overall Length
Deck Length
Gross Weight
Axles
Road Fund License
17,450mm
14,550mm
44 tonnes
Six
£ pa
Current
Artic Unit/Semi-Trailer
Overall Length
Deck Length
Gross Weight
Axles
Road Fund License
16,500mm
13,600mm
44 tonnes
Six
£1200 pa

Traditional Artic Semi-Trailer
Capacity 45 typical Roller Cages used by major FMCG businesses.
Traditional Capacity 45 FMCG Roller Cages
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43
2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41 44
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45
Traditional Capacity 26 Industry Standard 1000x1200 Pallets
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
Traditional Artic Semi-Trailer, Turning Circle
The maximum and minimum radii of a standard artic
semi-trailer are in accordance with C&U regulation 13.
Road and Tyre Wear
Fixed axles result in serious road and tyre wear,
particularly as the trailer negotiates turns,
junctions and bends.
Inner Radius 5414
Outer Radius 12500
Min. Radius 5300

NEW Extended Semi-Trailer, just under 1m longer
Capacity increase to 51 Roller Cages - a 13% increased capacity with NO increase in axle weight.
NEW Capacity 51 FMCG Roller Cages
13% Increased Cage Capacity
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49
2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41 44 47 50
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51
NEW Capacity 28 Industry Standard 1000x1200 Pallets
8% Increased Pallet Capacity
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
27
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
28
NEW Extended Semi-Trailer, Turning circle
The Rear Wheel Steering allows the new design to remain
in full accordance with the maximum and minimum radii
specified under C&U regulation 13.
Road and Tyre Wear
The rear steering axle design of the new trailer
significantly reduces road and tyre wear
through turns, junctions and bends.
Inner Radius 5414
Outer Radius 12500
Min. Radius 5300

Under current legislation, a demountable
forklift is already legally allowed to be carried
on the back of a 13,600mm artic semi-trailer.
The addition of the forklift gives an overhang
of 1,100mm; making the trailer/forklift
combination a total of 14,700mm in length -
significantly longer than the proposed
14,550mm of the new extended trailer.
©2008 Stobart Group Limited.

Eddie Stobart Limited
Appleton Thorn, Stretton Green Distribution Park
Langford Way, Appleton Thorn, Warrington WA4 4TZ.
Tel: 01925 605 400 Fax: 01925 605 346
www.eddiestobart.co.uk
Designed a produced by Carne Whitney 01228 596 895. ©2008 Stobart Group Limited.