Can I Use a Longer Semi Trailer LST Now?

July 4, 2023

Trucks and trailers are getting bigger. However, despite the views of opponents in this area, this is no bad thing as the main motivator behind the move to larger trucks and trailers is the environmental agenda. Longer trailers mean more payload area which means more cargo per journey and therefore fewer journeys. Longer tractor units mean better aerodynamics and improved fuel efficiency.

The good news is that both longer trailers and tractor units are now legal in the UK. However, the bad news is none of this means the maximum permitted gross vehicle weights have increased.

Which Longer Tractor Units can I Buy?

The revised legislation covering masses and dimensions of tractor units that came in on 1^st September 2020 means that you can now legally operate a longer tractor unit if the extra length leads to aerodynamic efficiencies. This should mean fuel savings which benefit the environment. In reality, it is very early days, as the only tractor unit that has been designed to meet these rules and is on sale is the DAF range of XF and XG trucks.

The good news is that you can now find some new generation DAF XF and DAF XG tractor units making their way onto the used truck market and, of course, Truckpages.co.uk. These trucks obviously command a premium as they are a brand new model and more fuel efficient than most other tractor units on the road today. Over the next few years, they will arrive in greater numbers and other manufacturers will have released their new cab designs to the market. Remember it can take years for a new cab design to reach production stage – the development costs are so high, the design has to last for years for it to pay back.

DAF Truck Range XF XG XG+ — DAF XG and XF New Generation Cabs.

Can I buy a Longer Semi Trailer?

Tiger Trailers Tool Station LST — In February 2018, Tiger Trailers manufactured three fixed double-deck stepframe LSTs for logistics operator Howard Tenens and its end customer, Toolstation, enabling the transport of up to 87 cages, 38 on each deck plus 11 on the neck

The simple answer is – yes you can. Trailer manufacturers have been making suitable trailers since the road trials began in 2012. The trailers are easy to spot, as they have an offset rear steering axle (and they are visibly longer). The LST can be up to 2.05 metres longer up to 15.65m, which means that operators can fit an additional 4 pallets or 9 cages.

Growth of the LST fleet submitting data. (Source: Evaluation of the Longer Semi-Trailer Trial: annual report 2020 update)

There are over 2,500 examples of LSTs on the UK’s roads already. This means that some may well make their way onto the used trailer market. Indeed, in the government’s report into the trial, it notes that 18 have been sold and 15 returned to the leasing company (presumably to be sold). Not a huge market yet, but these trailers may be set to increase now the scheme has been rolled out since May 2023 and is no longer a ‘trial’.