Longer Heavier Vehicle (LHV) is a large goods vehicle category in the United Kingdom. Longer Heavier Vehicles are not currently allowed to operate on UK roads because they exceed the mandated limit of six axles and of gross weight and length of for articulated lorries, or for drawbar lorries.
Background
LGVs (HGVs) In the UK, cargo carrying vehicles were previously defined, and are still commonly known, as HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles), although for harmonisation with other European Union member states, this term was officially changed to LGV (Large goods vehicle). Articulated lorries are the more common configuration of larger LGV in the UK, where a tractor unit tows a semi-trailer through a fifth wheel coupling. The drawbar configuration is a less common example of large LGV, and consists of a rigid lorry with cargo carrying capacity, which also pulls a second cargo trailer, using a drawbar link. The UK also allows the use of long 'bendy buses' for public transport. Buses however have their own legal classification, as PSVs (Passenger Service Vehicles).
Weights and dimensions
Since 1992, weight and axles limits for goods carrying lorries in the United Kingdom had increased in stages from and 5 axles. , vehicles are limited to a maximum of 6 axles, and limited to an overall maximum weight of and in length for articulated lorries, and and for drawbar lorries. The restriction on overall length is why the majority of UK lorries are hauled by 'cab over' tractor units, although for the minority of UK uses where the weight limit is reached before the length limit, conventional trucks are legal.
Longer, heavier vehicles (LHVs) is a classification given to any vehicle that is heavier and/or longer than these legal limits. This can involve basic extensions of the normal articulated or drawbar configuration, or can be achieved with more axles and a more complex configuration, with the largest examples being similar to so called road trains elsewhere in the world.
Turning circle
Whatever configuration of vehicle used, to be legally operated on UK roads, vehicles must adhere to the EU defined articulated vehicle turning circle regulations, which state that any vehicle must be able to navigate a turning circle around a set-point, keeping the whole of the vehicle within a corridor bounded by two circles around that point, with the inner circle having a radius of , and the outer radius being . Vehicle turning circles are particularly important in the UK due to the historical existence of many narrow streets, and a high number of roundabouts.
European Union law
As of 2009, some types of LHV already operate in the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland, with trials also having occurred in Germany.
As of 2009, European Union member countries only have the power to raise the existing EU weight and length limits in their own countries. As of January 2009, the European Union was considering the conclusions of a European Commission (EC) instigated report, which recommended raising limits EU wide to and , for reasons of cost-effectiveness. This would require approval of the EU Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.
Investigations
Early applications
The issue of the prospect of LHVs, at the time being called "road trains" or "super lorries", being allowed on Britain's roads came to national attention through the media in September 2005, following an application by hauliers to be allowed to trial longer trucks, and a report on the issue being prepared for the Department of Transport.
UK hauliers Dick Denby of Denby Transport and Stan Robinson from Stan Robinson Group were two of the biggest supporters of an LHV trial. Both companies had been developing their own designs, and had been lobbying the government for permission to test them on UK roads. The Robinson Group were developing the Stan Robinson Road Train, an 11 or 12 axle combination of two semi-trailers linked by a trailer dolly. Since around 2002, Denby had been developing the Denby Eco-Link, an 8 axle, , long vehicle with two trailers, known as a B-Double.
Supported by the Road Haulage Association, it was proposed that these LHVs would only be used on motorways to carry cargo between regional distribution centres. The application was opposed by Transport 2000 who believed it would eventually lead to the use of such vehicles in towns and villages. In March 2006, Transport minister Stephen Ladyman refused the Denby and Robinson applications, but also sought the results of further analysis. An application for a long trailer was also refused. The use of LHVs only on inter-modal routes was reportedly rejected due to the problems of enforcement of any such restriction.