Are there weight restrictions for (UK)Category F, Under 17s?

[H_irch785]

Hello All,
I am soon to be taking my Category F test and have been asked to haul grain for a friend of mine.

I have looked at .gov for restrictions on driving at age 16 and all I can find is and I quote:

*If you’re 16 you can only drive tractors less than 2.45 metres wide and tow trailers less than 2.45 metres wide with 2 wheels, or 4 wheels close-coupled (close together).

What I need to know is wether there is any weight restriction other than the combined 31t and trailer limit of 18.29t specific to 16 year olds.

Many thanks in advance, H

 

[Oscar]

As I understand it, you need to be 17 to do category B (car) test and then you are able when passed drive agricultural vechicle on public road upto GTW of 31t. So in your case, at 16 no you can t .
@Simon Chiles is our transport expert so may come along soon !

 

[Matt L]

Hello All,
I am soon to be taking my Category F test and have been asked to haul grain for a friend of mine.

I have looked at .gov for restrictions on driving at age 16 and all I can find is and I quote:

*If you’re 16 you can only drive tractors less than 2.45 metres wide and tow trailers less than 2.45 metres wide with 2 wheels, or 4 wheels close-coupled (close together).

What I need to know is wether there is any weight restriction other than the combined 31t and trailer limit of 18.29t specific to 16 year olds.

Many thanks in advance, H

Just be wary of the close coupled bit relating to the axles on the trailer. The hubs need to have centres no further apart than 880mm which rules out most modern trailer that run super singles let alone any on flotation tyres.
Also you will find that there aren’t that many trailers that are 2.45 wide. Most will be 2.6.
Would take a really keen officer of the law to know but just so you are aware.

 

[Rust]

As I understand it, you need to be 17 to do category B (car) test and then you are able when passed drive agricultural vechicle on public road upto GTW of 31t. So in your case, at 16 no you can t .
@Simon Chiles is our transport expert so may come along soon !

I think 17 and L plates will do

 

[Andrew]

Just be wary of the close coupled bit relating to the axles on the trailer. The hubs need to have centres no further apart than 880mm which rules out most modern trailer that run super singles let alone any on flotation tyres.
Also you will find that there aren’t that many trailers that are 2.45 wide. Most will be 2.6.
Would take a really keen officer of the law to know but just so you are aware.

True. At 16 you will struggle to find a combination that fits the requirements.

I think 17 and L plates will do

Why do you need L plates?

 

[Exfarmer]

It is correct, that at 16 you can drive up to the weight limit , provided you do not exceed those other restrictions, but you must have passed your test , you may not drive on L plates, except to and from your test

 

[Simon Chiles]

Hello All,
I am soon to be taking my Category F test and have been asked to haul grain for a friend of mine.

I have looked at .gov for restrictions on driving at age 16 and all I can find is and I quote:

*If you’re 16 you can only drive tractors less than 2.45 metres wide and tow trailers less than 2.45 metres wide with 2 wheels, or 4 wheels close-coupled (close together).

What I need to know is wether there is any weight restriction other than the combined 31t and trailer limit of 18.29t specific to 16 year olds.

Many thanks in advance, H

The extract you found is correct. At 16 you are limited to tractors less than 2.45 m wide ( which could actually be quite a large tractor and probably depends more on it’s tyre width ) and a single axle or close coupled tandem axle trailer. As has been suggested above the close coupled bit limits the wheel size so in reality you are talking about an Ifor Williams type trailer. The single axle limit for agricultural size trailers would technically limit you to a maximum trailer weight of 13 tonnes ( 10 tonne max on the axle and 3 tonne max on the hitch ) but the reality is that I doubt you’d find many trailers of more than 7 tonne capacity with only a single axle. These will be the limiting factors to the size of vehicle you can drive. Once you are 17 you can drive up to the 31 tonne max. weight.

 

[Rust]

True. At 16 you will struggle to find a combination that fits the requirements.



Why do you need L plates?

Because you haven't passed a test
At 17 not 16

 

[Andrew]

Because you haven't passed a test
At 17 not 16

Thought you were only allowed L plates on a tractor to drive to and from your test.

 

[Rust]

Thought you were only allowed L plates on a tractor to drive to and from your test.

At 16.

 

[Simon Chiles]

At 16.

At any age. L plates are for going to and from ( I suppose if you haven’t passed ) a test. You can’t just take anyone over 17 without a driving license and put them on a 31 tonne tractor/trailer combination, slap a few L plates on and that’ll be OK. It doesn’t work like that.

 

[Exfarmer]

At any age. L plates are for going to and from ( I suppose if you haven’t passed ) a test. You can’t just take anyone over 17 without a driving license and put them on a 31 tonne tractor/trailer combination, slap a few L plates on and that’ll be OK. It doesn’t work like that.

Although I would not condone anybody doing such a thing, but in law, if you have a UK provisional licence, you can from your 17th bithday take any legal, agricultural, wheeled tractor and trailed combination, up to 31 tonne, on to the road with no previous experience, as long as L plates are attached. There is no provision in the law for an accompanying driver even if seats are fitted.
I think any employer allowing such an action with no training, would be deemed liable to severe penalties if, an accident happened caused by the drivers mistakes, or could be argued even by their failure not to have anticipated an accident

 

[Rust]

Although I would not condone anybody doing such a thing, but in law, if you have a UK provisional licence, you can from your 17th bithday take any legal, agricultural, wheeled tractor and trailed combination, up to 31 tonne, on to the road with no previous experience, as long as L plates are attached. There is no provision in the law for an accompanying driver even if seats are fitted.
I think any employer allowing such an action with no training, would be deemed liable to severe penalties if, an accident happened caused by the drivers mistakes, or could be argued even by their failure not to have anticipated an accident

That was my understanding.

It all needs changing, no grey fergies and flat trailers with railway sacks hauling grain now a days.

 

[Simon Chiles]

Although I would not condone anybody doing such a thing, but in law, if you have a UK provisional licence, you can from your 17th bithday take any legal, agricultural, wheeled tractor and trailed combination, up to 31 tonne, on to the road with no previous experience, as long as L plates are attached. There is no provision in the law for an accompanying driver even if seats are fitted.
I think any employer allowing such an action with no training, would be deemed liable to severe penalties if, an accident happened caused by the drivers mistakes, or could be argued even by their failure not to have anticipated an accident

Sorry for the delayed reply, I’ve been a bit busy.
The law says that a 16 year old is only allowed on the road until they pass their test with L plates travelling to and from the test. After 17 you are allowed to drive a tractor on the road to practice for a test. Nowhere does it say that you can be employed grain carting etc on a provisional license with L plates. That’s blatant abuse of the system and should an accident occur I would suspect it would be treated as such.

 

[Exfarmer]

Sorry for the delayed reply, I’ve been a bit busy.
The law says that a 16 year old is only allowed on the road until they pass their test with L plates travelling to and from the test. After 17 you are allowed to drive a tractor on the road to practice for a test. Nowhere does it say that you can be employed grain carting etc on a provisional license with L plates. That’s blatant abuse of the system and should an accident occur I would suspect it would be treated as such.

You have hit the nail on the head, English law allows what is not forbidden. So the fact something is not excluded means it is legal.
However, I totally agree with your sentiment and that of others, todays roads are no place for kids of 17 to be driving 31 tonne vehicles on an L plate