All UNECE intermodal transport and logistics activities are pursued by WP24. Since 1951 the working party and its expert groups have provided a forum for the exchange of technical, legal and policy information, as well as best practice in intermodal transport and logistics to ensure maximum utilisation of equipment, infrastructure and terminals used for such transport.
WP24, currently chaired by Mr I. Isik (Turkey), brings together experts from UNECE governments, non-governmental organisations as well as the supply industry and academia.
The purpose of the workshop held at UIC on 6 and 7 February, was to review all aspects and implications of the revision of Directive 96/53 which lays down for certain road vehicles circulating within the community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic.
The discussion, led by Martin Magold (UNECE) and Henry Maillard from the Belgian Ministry of Transport, tackled the following issues from an intermodal perspective:
- Cross-border use of mega trucks
- Allowing increases in lorry length to accommodate aerodynamic tractor cabs and/or streamlined flaps at the back
- Allowing the use of 45-foot containers to facilitate intermodal transport
- Reviewing the 44T derogation for combined transport
The workshop, which was run as a brainstorm session, collected the views of all parties and identified the key topics on which to build a strong work programme for the coming years.
