TNT Express will start testing new longer trailers on roads across the UK in its dailyoperations to increase loading capacity for more efficient transportation.
The trial is part of a UK Government initiative within the transport and logistics industrylaunched by Transport Minister Mike Penning, which authorises the use of longer trailers for thenext 10 years. TNT said it will be the first express delivery company in the country to test theequipment.
The 15.65-metre trailers, which are two metres longer than the standard semi-trailers currentlyin use, are expected to considerably improve TNT’s efficiency and capabilities through a 15%greater payload.
The trailers will be deployed on TNT’s route between its main UK hub at Kingsbury, inStaffordshire, and the Llantrisant depot in Mid-Glamorgan, Wales.
“In days of high fuel prices, these innovative, modern trailers offer exceptional loadingcapacity and space utilisation to keep freight costs down to a minimum,” Simon Harper, Director ofOperations TNT Express Services UK & Ireland, said.
In addition to increased load volumes, the new trailers will also help TNT reduce carbonemissions. “It stands to reason that, with bigger loads on each vehicle, we will cover fewer milesper volume of parcels which will help with fuel consumption and reduce our CO2 emissions,” headded.
Technically advanced, the trailers incorporate other innovative features to further reduce tyrewear and fuel usage such as the ability to raise the centre axle which only deploys if the loadweight on either of the other two axles exceeds 90% of the permitted axle load of 9 tonnes.
Harper also mentioned a project that was launched to identify the viability of Double DeckTrailers within TNT’s express network. “The adoption of this equipment will increase the fullcapacity by 42 % over a standard 13.6m trailer.”
