Consultation outcome: Increasing the weight limit for fuel tankers

Published: 02 April 2024
By Chris Haycock

Temporary increases to weight limits for fuel tankers during periods of fuel supply disruption: government response HTML

The government intends to progress this proposal for use in times of fuel supply shortage in addition to measures already available.

The exemption will be temporary, lasting no longer than 4 to 5 weeks at a time. There are currently no plans to make the maximum permissible weight limit a permanent change.

Implementing the proposal requires changes to legislation. Government will, therefore, seek legal powers to make the necessary changes when Parliamentary time allows.

As this policy has an impact on local authorities, the relevant government departments will, in due course, further assess the funding required as part of the new burdens doctrine so that additional costs can be measured.

We are consulting on proposals to allow road fuel tankers to temporarily operate at weights higher than usually permitted. This would allow more fuel to be transported in times of fuel supply disruption, and follows disruption to fuel supplies in Autumn 2021.