A certain trailer pass scheme

Pennine Ploughing

Member
Mixed Farmer
I can se testing of tractors and trailers like hgv has to do come in in the future,
And if it does, then I think there should be 2 categories
1 category for tractors capable of doing 20mph max, and a trailer up to18 tonne gross, to be free and as it is now,
Category 2 is a tractor that can go faster than 20mph, and increase trailer gross to 26 tonne with no more than 8 tonne per axle ,
Also category 2 would need annual test, 8 week inspection, must be on air brakes, and driver must have a drivers cpc card same as hgv, and over 21,but allow a car licence to cover it
 

two-cylinder

Member
Location
Cambridge
Speed was upped to 40k a few years ago as was maximum weight for tractor, trailer and load to about 31 tons, however max weight of trailer and load remains at about 18,300 so there’s potential to be over weight with anything bigger than a 14 ton trailer
Before any test I would like to see policing of the rules we have at present.
I am sure many of the accidents we are seeing on the roads are caused by speeds in excess of 40KPH with loads in excess of 18t.
 

Cowslip

Member
Mixed Farmer
Do most the loads entering AD plants go over weighbridges ? Does maize weigh heavy ?
We weigh every load coming into the ad plant, wet green crops weigh very heavy, Brown dry maize crop very light. Trailer drivers need to have some common sense when weighing and filling trailers to know when to stop filling, communication between clamp trailers and forager drivers to keep trailers at safe weights.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
LOLER is very much a LAW, annual inspection by a competent person!!!
The person needs to be impartial and can't be the mechanic i.e. you cant audit your own work.

Anyone competent can do it, but they have to stand over it!
I used to do quite a few but got fed up with the "Sure just send me a cert"

Been having LOLER tests done for 3 years now, and have actually found it useful in a couple of instances. Almost worth the fee in one case.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
There are already performance and tracking facilities available, factory fitted for tractors from several brands where HQ can monitor relevant statistics for each unit and driver in real time. Problem is that it requires someone at HQ that gives a damn about driving safely and steadily, rather than turnaround time.

IF the employer is actually bothered, OBD GPS trackers are readily available at lowish cost, which would allow monitoring....
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Before any test I would like to see policing of the rules we have at present.
I am sure many of the accidents we are seeing on the roads are caused by speeds in excess of 40KPH with loads in excess of 18t.

Yep. We all hear of VOSA and Police carrying out a splurge of checks, but maybe they are in the wrong locations... ;)

Surprised that the ANPR kit linked to the speed camera check, are not used to be honest.
 

sjt01

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
North Norfolk
Yep. We all hear of VOSA and Police carrying out a splurge of checks, but maybe they are in the wrong locations... ;)

Surprised that the ANPR kit linked to the speed camera check, are not used to be honest.
ANPR could only identify farms, not vehicles unless it is mounted high and can see the back of the tractor over the trailer headboard. Common trailer number plates for a farm on trailers make individual trailers unidentifiable.
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
ANPR could only identify farms, not vehicles unless it is mounted high and can see the back of the tractor over the trailer headboard. Common trailer number plates for a farm on trailers make individual trailers unidentifiable.

Then it comes back to the Farmer/Owner ,who is probably the registered owner with DVLA, to identify the individual driver who has transgressed... or take the rap themselves. That is how other traffic infringements are dealt with as I understand it.
 
Location
Devon
Tacho...?

I suspect not, but should they have them fitted for this sort of work?

No idea on the tacho but if its for a farm's own produce then i think you dont need them anyway regardless of the distance you are hauling.

Another Contractor at one point took on a block of land that took something like 4/ 5 hours to get there with the combine! drove it down there and the tractors etc every year to cut the crops!
 

Ivorbiggun

Member
Location
Norfolk
There’s several farms around here using tri axle stewart trailers. Loaded to the brim, must go 40 tons at harvest, but as long as the combine doesn’t stop they’re happy.
Drivers working 18 hour days, no breaks, 6/7 hours off then back in and do it all again 7 days a week.
The bigger the farm the bigger the problem.
 
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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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