Drivers slam plans to restrict truck height

THE Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has described plans by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to introduce a maximum height restriction for heavy goods vehicles as economic madness.

Truck drivers yesterday reacted angrily to suggestions there will be an outright ban on the use of trucks above a certain height under new Government legislation.

The proposals by the Department of Transport are designed to further remove large vehicles from city centre areas, especially Dublin, following completion of the Dublin Port Tunnel.

Dublin City Council has already been strongly criticised by the IRHA for limiting the Dublin Port Tunnel to vehicles under 4.65m. IRHA spokesperson, Jimmy Quinn described any attempt to ban existing “supercube” container lorries which are up to 4.95m in height from Irish roads as ignorant.

The IRHA estimates that up to 5% of vehicles or 400 trucks will be unable to use the Dublin Port Tunnel due to height restrictions.

The “supercube” trucks are capable of holding twice the capacity of standard trucks despite being less than 1m higher and having the same length and width dimensions.

It will have a negative impact on the economy and further fuel inflation, said Fine Gael’s transport spokesman Denis Naughten. A spokesperson for Mr Brennan defended plans to restrict HGV height.