The proposed trials will allow around 1800 lorries of up to 2.05m longer to operate across the UK, for up to 10 years. 900 can be 2.05m longer (15.65m) and 900 can be 1m longer (14.6m).

William Stobart, Stobart Group Chief Operating Officer, said: “We welcome today’s news that the Department for Transport will undertake a trial of longer, high-volume trailers.

“Eddie Stobart has long campaigned the benefits of longer trailers and the environmental benefits they bring fit well within Stobart Group’s policy of developing sustainable distribution solutions.”

Stobart has already undertaken significant evaluation of two key sizes of trailers and is the biggest single lobbyist for them (see WorldCargo News, April 2011, p26).

The Rail Freight Group described Penning’s decision “as deeply disappointing.” According to the RFG, the research previously undertaken by DfT demonstrated that full introduction of longer lorries would have a devastating impact on the prospects for rail freight growth in the retail sector.

Concerns have also been raised regarding safety – not least by cyclists – the ability to utilise fully the additional space, and the impact on small haulage firms.

Maggie Simpson, RFG Policy Manager said: “The DfT’s decision to proceed with trials of longer lorries is a blow to the rail freight sector, and raises questions about this Government’s commitment to greener transport.

“We will now be pressing to ensure that the trial will be properly representative, and will address the major concerns associated with these vehicles.”

The government’s announcement has been welcomed by the UK’s Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). Longer vehicles, says CILT, could benefit the movement of high volume and light weight goods, such as paper goods or potato crisps enabling worthwhile reductions in road miles resulting in reduced carbon emissions, reduced accident rates and lower costs.

CILT Chief Executive Steve Agg said: “It is important that we maximise the efficiency of every available transport mode. It is a fact that for many high volume, but low weight goods on the move every day, the lorry runs out of carrying capacity by volume well before maximum weight levels are reached.

“There is a good argument for suggesting that, for some goods, trailer lengths can be increased producing operating and environmental benefits generated by the need to use fewer vehicles.”

According to the government, the trials will be independently monitored and care will be taken to measure the impact of longer vehicles not only in relation to costs, fuel efficiency and emissions, but also to road safety. In particular the relationship to other road users, notably cyclists, motor cyclists and pedestrians will be studied.