Denby Eco-Link
In 2004 Denby, among other UK hauliers, unsuccessfully applied for permission from the Department for Transport (DfT) to trial their LHV prototypes on the public road.
Having reached an impasse with the DfT, who still regarded the EcoLink as an illegal LHV but conceded that only the courts could rule on the matter, on 1 December Mr Denby took the Eco-Link for a road test on the A46.
Having already informed the police, Mr Denby was stopped outside the depot by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) who prohibited further tests.
[9] Political interest in the Eco-Link continued, with the Conservative opposition Transport ministers Owen Paterson from the Commons and Earl Attlee from the Lords both driving the Denby vehicle at demonstration events during 2006.
[10][11] On 4 June 2008, based on the desk study's conclusions, Transport Minister Ruth Kelly postponed indefinitely the approval of trials of nearly all LHV designs, except the option of longer normal semi-trailers.
[citation needed] In logistics terms, unlike a drawbar lorry combination, a B-Double arrangement allows the separate delivery of either trailer by the tractor to a destination.
[2][4] This is based on the fact that for light but bulky goods such as toilet paper, plastic bottles, cereals and aluminium cans, conventional lorries run out of cargo space before they reach the weight limit.
[citation needed] In the final report of the BTAC trials in November 2004, the Eco-Link was given an "excellent" rating for its performance in manoeuvrability, productivity, safety and emissions tests, superseding ordinary lorries in many respects.
[20] Private trials had also reportedly shown the Denby vehicle had a 20 per cent shorter stopping distance than conventional lorries of the same weight, due to having extra axles.
[2] According to Roadway magazine, the Eco-Link could go anywhere a standard drawbar lorry could go, and in an RHA manoeuvrability trial it had passed turning circle tests and had negotiated a slalom course consisting of cones spaced 12 m apart.
[2][18] Denby Transport believed they had found a legal-loophole in the present UK law to allow the Eco-Link to be used on the public roads.
[2] The point of law reportedly hinged on the definition of a "towing implement", with Denby prepared to argue that the second trailer on the Eco-Link was one.
[15] Mr Denby had given the Police prior warning of the timing and route of the test drive, and had outlined their position in writing to the Eastern Traffic Area Office.
[1] Mr Denby had not driven a truck for 14 years, but updated his own license in order to be able to perform the drive without exposing one of his drivers to the risk of prosecution.
[22] The Police pulled Mr Denby over as it left the gates, in order to test it for its legality "to investigate any... offences which may be found".
[4][22] Being too long to reverse into the yard, the police escorted Mr Denby in the vehicle for a mile along the A46 in order to be able to turn around at a roundabout and return to the depot.
[22] Denby expressed confidence that they would not be found guilty in any prosecution arising from their decision to trail the Eco-Trailer, stating that "we could say we did all we could to negotiate this with the DfT and they have acknowledged that only the courts can decide.
