As one of the possible solutions to address the challenges associated with the increase of freight traffic on roads the introduction of heavy goods vehicles with a higher capacity for freight volume was discussed in many European countries. In 2011, the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development commissioned BASt to conduct a supporting scientific study of the nationwide field trial of overlength vehicles and vehicle combinations (longer trucks). Longer trucks may be designed with a greater length (up to 25.25 m) than is allowed under the current regulations. However, a higher gross weight than the currently applicable 40 tonnes (or 44 tonnes on the initial and terminal hauls in combined transport) is not permissible. The trial was launched on 1 January 2012 and was scheduled to run for five years. The legal basis for the conduct of the field trial is constituted by the Regulations issued by the Federal Minister of Transport on Exemptions from Road Traffic Law Provisions governing Overlength Vehicles and Vehicle Combinations (the Exemption Regulations) of 19 December 2011 and the relevant amending regulations. The purpose of the supporting scientific research was also to bring greater objectivity to the discussions on the issue of longer trucks. Taking as their starting point the arguments advanced in the past against longer and heavier trucks, pressure groups representing the railways, environmentalist groups and motoring organizations also expressed concerns regarding the increase in length, which was the only subject addressed in the field trial. The criticism concerns, as a matter of principle and in a relatively wholesale manner (i. e. primarily without differentiation between the different types of longer trucks), the following three key issues: - It is claimed that longer and/or heavier trucks would be detrimental to road safety. - The pavement load imposed on the infrastructure by longer and/or heavier trucks would be so great that its strengthening and/or repair would place a huge cost burden on the general public. - As a result of the likely efficiency enhancement and the associated cost advantages in the road haulage sector, freight traffic would be shifted from the railways to the roads and/or new road traffic would be induced, meaning that ultimately there would be more rather than less road freight traffic. Nor has the fact that longer trucks means exclusively longer and not heavier trucks brought about any fundamental change in the discussion. One of the key issues in the discussions is the fear regarding the impact on the demand for transport, which assumes a modal shift to the detriment of the railways. The objective of the approach to the supporting scientific research was to comprehensively take into account all hopes in and reservations concerning the operation of longer trucks discussed in public. By way of preparation for the trial and the associated supporting scientific research, the relevant questions were first identified. Within the scope of a study of the international literature, and taking account of the regulatory framework and the public discussion, those aspects mentioned in various sources as possible opportunities and risks regarding the operation of longer trucks were identified and listed. This list was discussed during a colloquium of experts. The outcome was an overview of the thematic issues deemed to be relevant and to be studied. The study programme of the supporting scientific research thus covered these thematic areas. To answer the questions, several research projects were launched. Some of these were conducted by BASt itself, but most were done by external research institutes. Within the different research projects multiple scientific methods were used to get the relevant findings. Mostly empirical observations and tests, but also simulations, modelling and theoretically considerations and calculations were part of the investigations. The supporting scientific research addressed a multiplicity of presumed risks or even fears regarding a more or less great need to adapt the infrastructure. On the basis of the comprehensive study programme, it emerged that the deployment of longer trucks will have no adverse impact on a large number of the aspects under consideration under the general conditions of the field trial. It will be possible to compensate for some of the potential challenges that may arise depending on the type and number of longer trucks using the highway facilities by substituting longer trucks for conventional trucks, as observed in the field trial (turn 3 into 2), and remedy them to varying degrees by modifying the road infrastructure. Longer trucks‘ share of the total volume of freight traffic is the main factor for appraising the risks identified. Low shares, which would appear likely given the most recent findings from the field trial, may result in them being classified as acceptable or manageable. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting