Longer semi-trailers to provide much needed environmental boost, says Logistics UK

Wednesday 10 May 2023

Logistics UK today (10 May 2023) welcomes the permanent fixture of longer semi-trailers (LSTs), as announced by government, hailing it as an opportunity to reduce road emissions and industry costs.

Able to transport a higher volume of goods, resulting in fewer vehicles needed and subsequent reduced running costs, LSTs will provide a much-needed economic boost for the sector that is currently facing escalating costs related to decarbonisation investments and soaring inflation. In the view of Logistics UK, the announcement will also bring many environmental benefits due to lower congestion, and with less vehicles on the road, also has the potential to increase road safety.

Chris Yarsley, Logistics UK’s Senior Policy Manager – Road Freight Regulation comments: “The introduction of LSTs into general service will increase the scope and scale of the goods which our industry is able to transport, increasing efficiencies and reducing the environmental impact of delivering for the UK’s economy.  Over the past few years of the trial, our members have proved that LSTs provide operators with a cost-efficient, environmentally prudent alternative to conventional vehicles and our members remain committed to rolling them out across the wider industry as soon as possible.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.