Super-long lorries are set to roll out on Britain’s roads in as little as five months under newly-unveiled government plans.
Industry chiefs hope trucks of up to 18.5 metres - 2 metres longer than standard trailers - will help Britain cope with a Brexit-fuelled driver shortage that has prompted supply hold-ups at Nando’s, McDonald’s and shops.
The government also claims a trial of the trucks, cut short last year, showed using fewer, longer vehicles saved 48,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere.
Plans on Tuesday show the government’s “preferred option” is to have the Longer-semi trailers (LSTs) in general circulation with “lighter regulatory control”.
This would include truck operators doing a risk assessment of the route, specific driver training of at least half a day, and a feedback system - but no cap on the number entering Britain’s roads.
The plans add: "Depending on parliamentary time and resources, the ability to operate LSTs outside the trial is envisaged to start in January or April 2022."
But there has been criticism of the scheme, with 43% of those who responded to a consultation saying they should not be allowed.
Many of those respondents highlighted safety fears, while Chris Todd, the director of campaign group Transport Action Network, told the Telegraph the plans were “greenwashing in overdrive”.
“We know from the nature of the extra swing on the vehicle and the bigger blind spot that it’s going to likely have a more chilling effect on people walking and cycling,” he added.
The Department for Transport insisted, on a per kilometre basis, LSTs have been involved in about 53% fewer personal injury collisions and casualties than usual HGVs.
The department also said 57% of respondents to the consultation felt LSTs should be in general circulation “and could see the positive effects for the industry and environment”.
The consultation claimed they reduced journey numbers by 1 in 12.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has welcomed the move, with policy director Duncan Buchanan telling the Telegraph: “It will decrease the amount of lorry drivers we need.
“They are higher capacity, so you need fewer drivers to do the same amount of work.”
It comes after Nando’s ran short of peri-peri chicken and McDonald’s stopped milkshake sales due to supply issues across the food and drink industry.
While many drivers have been ‘pinged’ into Covid isolation, Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said Brexit was to blame - due to immigration and worker rules after the UK left the EU.
Since January 1 free movement of EU nationals to live and work in the UK has ended, with migrants instead having to fulfil a string of criteria.
So-called ‘skilled’ workers must earn at least £20,480 while ‘low-skilled’ workers are barred completely.
Mr Griffiths said last week: “They are skilled workers. There is an awful lot of skill involved in the roles we are looking at - it’s just under immigration policy they’re not classed as skilled workers.”
Asked if he could offer better pay and recruit UK workers instead he replied: “That’s just not the case. We’ve seen over a number of years that the willingness and availability are just not there in the UK workforce.”
