PARKING Ӏ SPECIALISED TRANSPORT
It’s late. You’ve had a long, stressful day. You’re need to eat and sleep as it’s another big day tomorrow. But your path is blocked by another vehicle and there’s nowhere else to go… Welcome to the world of the European abnormal load driver.
As if the being a specialised
transport operator isn’t tough enough in Europe. On top of sorting paperwork and juggling compliance between differing national regulations you’ve got to then find somewhere safe and secure to park for the night. Forget about a café meal or a hot shower! With these kinds of challenges how is the industry meant to attract new drivers? ESTA, the European association of the abnormal road transport and mobile crane rental industries, is looking for reform. Not just with regards to specialised transport parking, though; the association has been championing the interests of its members since 1976 and currently has around 90 members in over 25 countries. One of its main, ongoing, goals
is to facilitate the harmonisation of rules governing both abnormal transport and mobile cranes across Europe in the interests of safety
and efficiency. This is because, at present, different countries have different rules and regulations leading to complicated, impractical and unnecessary bureaucracy for transport companies looking to move overweight or oversized vehicles or vehicle combinations across international borders.
MAKING MOVES In a latest move, ESTA has now teamed up with fellow European association ESPORG, the ‘European Secure Parking Organisation’, whose members include secure parking facility operators, to shine the spotlight on the need for dedicated, safe and secure specialised transport parking areas across Europe. Although the issue goes hand- in-hand with ESTA’s regulation harmonisation quest it holds its own idiosyncrasy: in an industry so steeped in regulations whilst on the road it’s contrary that, when it comes to parking up for the night, it can be like the Wild West! The parking problem is
multifaceted… but one aspect was unexpectedly experienced by myself on a recent drive across Germany at night.
NEWS IN BRIEF
GOLDHOFER STEPSTAR FOR FRANCE The Stepstar is a self-tracking semitrailer which offers high payloads at low dead weights and has a unique load securing system, claims manufacturer Goldhofer. It is designed to handle a variety of transport tasks throughout Europe. A version presented at industrial and urban vehicle trade show SOLUTRANS earlier this year, however, has been specially adapted for the French market and for French regulations. The Stepstar range comprises a growing variety
of semi-trailers, from three to six axles with payloads up to 84 tonnes. There is a choice of loading lengths, with or without extension, and it can come with the ‘Mega’ gooseneck for optimum utilisation of the entire vehicle length as a loading area. This would be used, for example, for transporting containers. It is available with one or two pairs of wheel recesses in the loading area for transporting high construction machines; a platform model has one- or two-piece ramps with an extremely low load angle for loading low-floor vehicles; there is a choice of self-tracking or forced steering. An intelligent load securing concept, ease of operation, and flexible setup options are all part of the package. Various materials are available for the deck. This includes sheet steel with anti-slip coating or the low- wear 'Traffideck Go' polymer flooring co-developed by Goldhofer. The company claims that not only does it save weight but also reduces loading height and has an outstanding coefficient of friction compared to wooden or rubber flooring. It also ensures maximum safety during loading and on the road. Its low dead weight and the resulting payload make it an all-rounder in cross-border logistics, the company claims. The vehicles can also be fitted with Goldhofer
Cargoplus low-profile tyres which offer higher payloads and lower loading heights. This translates into the ability to move taller and heavier construction machinery with fewer detours due to height restrictions on the route. “The French-specific version means that our western neighbours also have a flexible and innovative solution at their disposal,” said Bernard Bonvalor, the German firm’s sales representative for the French market.
Abnormal load drivers have a route to stick to; they can't seek out parking spots Often arriving late at night makes fi nding a free parking spot even more challenging
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