Hauliers say their plans would ease congestion

The Freight Transport Association says putting bigger loads on fewer vehicles would help tackle rising traffic congestion, and a shortage of drivers.

The FTA argues that more efficient, larger lorries would also relieve pressure to cut costs.

But environmental groups say larger lorries would undermine efforts to get more goods transported by rail.

'Huge' problem

The FTA says British industry loses billions of pounds each year due to road congestion, and larger lorries could be part of the solution.

"Road congestion is almost the biggest problem that British industry faces, and the fourth largest economy in the world isn't served by a road infrastructure that's not up to the job", said the FTA's external affairs director, Geoff Dossetter.

Mr Dossetter says an increase from the current limit of 44-tonne lorries in Britain would not have a negative impact on roads, provided the lorries were designed in a way to spread the load more efficiently, using more axles.

"We need a better road system and more efficient haulage," he said. "We agree that we need as much freight on rail as we possibly can, but that's never really going to solve the problem of road congestion."

Environment concerns

Mr Dossetter says the need for larger but fewer vehicles will increase from March next year, when the European Union's Working Time Directive becomes applicable to transport.

He believes it will restrict the hours lorry drivers are allowed to work and result in a loss of productivity.

But environmental organisations say the answer to congestion is increased use of the rail system.

"The real way forward for freight transport isn't bigger lorries but more freight travelling by rail," said Tony Bosworth, spokesman for Friends of the Earth.

"Rail freight is safer and much less polluting than lorries, and one freight train can take 50 lorry journeys off our roads."