§ Lord Shore of Stepneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the present maximum weight, height and length of lorries permitted to use roads in the United Kingdom; when these maximum weights, heights and lengths were last imposed and what were the previous dimensions; and whether these maxima are set by United Kingdom or European Union law 114WA and, if the latter, whether by unanimity or qualified majority. [HL3054]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)The maximum weights for lorries in the United Kingdom is 41 tonnes for general transport and 44 tonnes when used for combined road/rail transport.
The maximum length is 12 metres for a single rigid vehicle, 16.5 metres for an articulated vehicle and 18.75 metres for a road train (a combination of a lorry and trailer).
There are no regulations limiting the height of lorries.
The changes were made as follows:
Year of change From To Weight 1999 38 tonnes 41 tonnes Length (single vehicle) 1986 11 metres 12 metres Length (articulated vehicles) 1990 15.5 metres 16.5 metres Length (road train) 1998 18.35 metres 18.75 metres Weight limits are set by the UK regulations. The other dimensions are set by EU Directive 96/53/EC, which was agreed by qualified majority voting.