HCT (High Capacity Transport)
An increased utilization of HCT vehicles would increase energy efficiency and thereby reduce CO2 emissions and increase the capacity of the infrastructure system.
Through High Capacity Transports (HCT), DB Schenker conducted field tests with new truck sizes and vehicle combinations. The project was run together with Volvo, the Swedish Transport Administration, CLOSER (via Lindholmen Science Park), Wabco, and others.
The purpose of the project was to investigate how we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the number of heavy vehicles on the roads by means of vehicle combinations with higher capacity than is permitted today. Since 2012, DB Schenker Sweden and external parties tested different combinations of longer and heavier vehicles (> 25.25m > 64 tonnes). Experiments were conducted under regulations and dispensations from the Swedish Transport Agency.
Field tests were performed in daily operations with DUO trailers (2 semi-trailers) of 32 meters between Gothenburg and Malmö by Schenker Åkeri, a wholly owned subsidiary of Schenker AB. DB Schenker Consulting coordinated the project on behalf of DB Schenker.
Some benefits of participating in the project included:
- Influencing future legislation to ensure socio-economic benefits
- Contributing to set environmental goals for 2030 to reduce CO2 emissions
- Gaining experience of the influence of HCT technology on existing transport systems
- Reducing the number of vehicles on the road, which reduces noise, road wear, accident risk, and transport costs
The government published information that the Swedish Transport Administration was commissioned to analyze where longer trucks should be allowed on Sweden’s roads and to produce proposals for constitutional amendments to allow longer trucks. The purpose was to increase transport efficiency and reduce the climate impact of freight transport. The assignment for the Swedish Transport Administration was reported to the Ministry of Industry on March 31, 2019.