- new proposals considered for fuel tankers to operate at full
capacity, securing the supply of fuel to UK forecourts and depots
- consultation will ensure constant fuel supply at forecourts
without adding larger tankers on roads
- follows continued action to bolster supply chains and keep
the country moving
The government is consulting on whether fuel tankers should be
allowed to carry more fuel in a move designed to further
strengthen the UK’s fuel
supply chain.
Have your say on
increasing the weight limit for fuel tankers.
The consultation launched today (5 April 2023), will explore
whether fuel tankers will be allowed to carry more fuel in the
eventuality of disruption to the fuel supply chain to help ensure
car, bus and lorry drivers can always fill up with confidence.
Most fuel tankers operate with spare tank capacity due to the
existing 44 tonne weight limit. The potential to allow tankers to
operate to their full design train weight could increase the
efficiency of the fuel supply chain by approximately 6%.
The measure would enable more fuel to be carried using the same
vehicles, helping to safeguard a strong fuel supply chain as the
government continues to grow the economy.
Roads Minister said:
Thanks to the government’s bold measures to support the sector,
our country 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.
Safety will be at the heart of the consultation, and any increase
in fuel capacity would apply only to fuel tankers equipped with
appropriate safety features, such as vehicle stability
functionality and advanced emergency braking systems.
Routes to be used by these heavier tankers would have to be
agreed in advance to ensure the road infrastructure can
accommodate the fuel tankers operating at full capacity.
An assessment of the proposals by National Highways indicates
that the increase in safety risks would be extremely small and
any risk of infrastructure damage would be effectively managed.
This follows the government’s 33
actions already taken to tackle the HGV driver shortage and to
protect the supply chain. This included;
- making 11,000 HGV driver training places
available through Skills Bootcamps
- injecting a major and sustained boost to the number
of HGV driver tests
available
- investing £52.5 million in improvements in roadside
facilities and lorry parking
As a result, new HGV drivers are taking and passing
their driving test in record numbers. Between March 2022 and May
2022, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carried out
29,384 HGV tests – 54%
more than the corresponding period in 2019 before the pandemic.
