WATFORD: Merchants handling bulk high volume deliveries will benefit from calls for longer trailers in the UK.

Truck maker Iveco has joined with the Freight Transport Association calling for the Department for Transport to allow on-road trials 18m articulated trucks.

The longest artic allowed in Europe is 16.5m: the extra 1.5m that Iveco wants will allow trailers to carry the equivalent of four more Euro pallets or eight roll-cages, equivalent to 12% more load capacity.

The recommendation to allow 18m articulated trucks in the UK follows the public launch of Project Diciotto in Rome in September. Iveco is running the high profile trial with the Italian government six logistics firms, with a review due in May 2010.