Supplementary memorandum by the Railway
Development Society (RH 06A)
Increase in Lorry Weights (40 tonne on five
axles, 41 tonne on six axles).
The benefit of 44 tonne lorries to intermodal
traffic will be eroded by the general increase in weights proposed
in the Government White Paper. Even the 44 tonne intermodal lorry
previously allowed never did anything for lighter cargoes which
grossed 38 tonne or less on road. This must be redressed. A simple
increase of weight for intermodal traffic would be less productive
as less cargoes would be able to make use of this concession and
it would encourage the road haulage industry to use this as the
next stepping stone in their constant striving for increased weights.
A simpler mechanism is available which would not only benefit
maximum weight shipments but would also assist all intermodal
cargoes, even the lightest.
All prime movers and drawbar combination units
used EXCLUSIVELY for intermodal traffic should be given a status
akin to that of a WORKS TRUCK. This would allow them to pay a
much reduced road fund licence and use gas oil fuel. The resultant
savings in cost would benefit not only maximum weight shipments
but also lighter groupage traffic etc. Obviously, this proposal
would need the strictest policing if it were not to be abused
and several safeguards are recommended.
(a) All such vehicles should be clearly marked
as such. It is suggested that a distinctive immovable badge is
applied front, rear and on the sides clearly stating the vehicles
status and home depot. This should be clearly legible to police
patrols etc so that any abuse is easily detected.
(b) The radius of operation for such vehicles
needs to be tightly restricted, perhaps to 50-80 kilometres. At
present it is not unusual for 44 tonne intermodal units to have
a road leg within the UK of200-300 miles. This is clearly against
the spirit of the existing concession.
(A calculation sheet which demonstrates the
rationale behind the WORKS TRUCK idea is appended below.)
EXISTING DEFINITION
OF WORKS
TRUCK
A motor vehicle (other than a straddle carrier)
or trailer designed for use in private premises and used on a
road only for delivering goods from or to such premises or to
or from a vehicle on a road in the immediate neighbourhood or
in passing from one part of the premises to another or to other
private premises in the immediate neighbourhood or in connection
with road works whilst used at or in the immediate neighbourhood
of the site.
Excise licence "SPECIAL VEHICLE"—Rate
£160 (July 1998).
CALCUATION OF
TAX BENEFIT
OF "WORKS
TRUCK" STATUS
TO COMBINED
TRANSPORT LORRY
Excise Licence six axles 44 tonne—£1,280
Based on six day working week = £3.59p
per day.
Approximate fuel consumption of 44 tonne lorry
= 1.25 miles per litre.
Fuel duty per litre = 44p.
Therefore 44 tonne lorry would save 33p per
mile using fully rebated fuel.
Single container/swap body lift = £20 approximately.
Extra cost to combined transport of transhipment
= one life on + one lift off = £40.
Assuming one movement per lorry per day extra
cost = £40.
Less Excise licence reduction—£3.59p.
Net additional cost = £36.41.
At 33p per mile benefit from reduced fuel cost
= 110 miles.
Therefore maximum operating radius for such
a lorry to avoid abuse by a haulier is 55 miles. For working purposes
this has been rounded down to 80 kilometres hence that figure
appears as a maximum in the recommendations to Government.
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