The first longer semi-trailer to take part in the Department for Transport’s (DfT) ten year trial hit the roads today, with Stobart Group carrying groceries for Tesco on a 15.65m SDC trailer.
Stobart’s first run of the trailer – 2.05m more than the usual trailer length of 13.6m – carried 54 cages of goods for the supermarket, a 20% increase in its normal capacity.
Chief operating officer William Stobart says: “Today is another milestone in the company’s history as we operate the first longer trailer in the UK.
“We have worked in partnership with the DfT to help introduce these new trailers and the industry as a whole is set to benefit from the opportunities and environmental advantages they bring.”
Under the terms of the trial Eddie Stobart is allowed to run 90 longer semi-trailers, including 23 at 15.65m and 67 of the 14.6m length.
On Monday SDC was been granted approval by the Vehicle Certification Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport, for all five of its longer semi-trailer models.
