Longer Semi-trailers Project
The research project's work will divided into three broad areas, namely:
1. Assessing industry need:
- The extent to which longer semi-trailers would be used (i.e. determining market 'need'), including identifying the likely freight sectors (e.g. liquid and dry bulk, palletised general cargo and FMCG) and journey types (e.g. primary, secondary and tertiary distribution); and
- Given market need, identifying the likely tractor unit/longer semi-trailer combinations which would be most used (e.g. magnitude of length increase, overall height etc) and for which types of movements;
2. The economic impact:
- The impact on the cost of transporting goods by road and rail freight, including an assessment of the capital costs and running costs of longer semi-trailer combinations; and
- Estimating the wider economic impact, taking into account any cost savings to industry and impacts on wider society;
3. Safety, infrastructure and environmental impact:
- Compatibility with existing infrastructure, including the public road network, distribution centres and retail outlet loading bays;
- The overall environmental impact, including but not restricted to CO2 emissions across freight modes as a whole;
- The implications for vehicle design (need for steering axles etc) and safety (e.g. tail-swing and stability); and
- The effects on fatalities and serious injuries.