Transport minister Stephen Hammond has announced more freight operators will have the opportunity to join a trial for longer goods vehicles.

Launched in 2012, the ten-year trial allowed freight operators to bid for 1,800 vehicle allocations. The Department for Transport (DfT) reports that approximately 1,250 of these remain unused.

Mr Hammond said: "Longer semi-trailers enable freight companies to transport more goods, more efficiently, and should give significant economic and environmental benefits. We want to maximise their use during the trial to ensure we properly assess the benefits."

Following a four-week consultation, unused spaces will become available for operators who are currently not in the trial.

The session had 47 responses. Out of 38 freight operators, 12 were not in the trial. Of all 47 respondents, 42 of these - 89 per cent - welcomed the proposals. Some 35, or 74 per cent, want the industry to decide allocations for semi-trailer lengths, rather than the DfT pre-determining them.