Plans were revealed last week that the UK government intends to avoid supply chain disruption by making a change to tanker laws. Under the proposal, fuel tankers would be allowed to carry extra fuel – something they’re not currently able to do due to the existing 44-tonne weight limit that’s in place.
At present, the majority of tankers on the UK’s roads operate with spare capacity, however, the current consultation seeks to permit tankers to operate to their full design train weight.
A Potential 6% Increase in Supply Chain Fuel Efficiency
Rewind just 6 months, and the news was replete with panic buying at the fuel pump, petrol stations running dry, and climate activists targeting refineries – leading to an impact on fuel supplies. That said, the Department for Transport’s plan is said to potentially lead to a 6% increase in fuel efficiency across the supply chain.
Speaking on the matter, Roads Minister Richard Holden had this to say:
“Thanks to the government’s bold measures to support the sector, our country now has now an even stronger haulage supply chain. We will continue to work with and listen to the sector to ensure our forecourts are always well stocked and motorists can fill up with confidence.”
At the heart of the consultation will be road safety, with any future increased fuel capacity allowance only applied to fuel tankers with suitable safety features, such as advanced emergency braking systems and vehicle stability functionality.
Other Considerations Need to Be Made
This bold government move would also have ramifications for Britain’s road network, as the routes to be used would also have to be agreed upon prior to implementation. Specific road infrastructure needs to be available to accommodate fuel tankers operating at full capacity.
The government also stated that a National Highways assessment of the proposals had indicated that any associated risks would be very small, with any potential risk of damage to infrastructure able to be effectively managed.
This latest plan follows the 33 actions implemented to date by the government to protect the UK’s supply chain, with Skills Bootcamps and a £52.5 million investment in roadside facilities & lorry parking already underway. Anyone wanting to see the consultation – which closes on the 17th of May 2023 – should follow this link.
Working Hard to Support the UK Supply Chain
Much has been done over the last 18 months or so to help address the ongoing HGV driver shortage and support the operation of the UK supply chain. Whatever the outcome of the current consultation turns about to be, the HGVC team is fully behind any measures to improve fuel efficiency, so long as safety standards are maintained.
In the meantime, we’ll carry on doing what we’re known for – delivering industry-leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programs via our extensive UK training centre network. If you’d like to know more about us and what makes us different, take a moment to browse the wealth of information to be found on our website.
Alternatively, to speak to us directly, either click ‘contact us’ or call 0330 818 8888, and our team will be more than happy to explore your requirements.
