Isra-Mart srl:Forestry emissions chopped by larger lorries

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Isra-Mart srl news:

Extending the length of timber rigs could significantly reduce the forestry industry's transport emissions, a Volvo trial in Sweden has concluded.

Trucks carrying timber are currently restricted to 18.75 metres in length, except in Sweden and Finland, which permit 24 metre-long vehicles, with a maximum weight of 44 tonnes. But the En Trave Till (ETT) project, which translates as 'One More Pile', is testing a 30-metre haulage combination carrying 65 tonnes of timber.

Around 100,000 tonnes of timber have been transported between Överkalix and Piteå in northern Sweden since January 2009, covering a total of 525,000 kilometres.

Preliminary results presented earlier this month at the Nordic Transport Forum indicate the new longer timber haulage cut carbon emissions by just over 20 per cent, as well as reducing other pollutants.

The tests also show that the longer vehicles do not compromise road safety in terms of stability and braking, and are as profitable as the shorter trucks.

Sweden transports 70 million cubic metres of timber by road each year, and trial sponsors the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden and the Swedish Forest Industries Federation are keen to identify means of reducing the industry's environmental impact.

Lennart Pilskog, director of public affairs at Volvo Trucks, another backer of the project, said ETT offers a good solution for industry and the environment.

"The One More Pile project is in line with Volvo Trucks' strategy for achieving sustainable emission levels and reducing dependence on fossil fuels," he said. "Reduced fuel consumption not only benefits the environment, it also raises our customers' profitability."

The next phase of the ETT project will test vehicles in everyday conditions in other parts of Sweden to see if similar benefits accrue.