Legalities of towing

[kiwi pom]

I dont know why anyone bothers, haulier will pick it up for £300 or less

I was wondering how much it would cost to have it delivered.
Time you've put fuel in, your own time plus he's driving a Disco so there's a new engine each way
People do love being billy big rig with their little 4wds and trailers.

 

[grainboy]

Are so I’m okay then.
My tri axle 20 ft trailer weighs less than 1020 kg

 

[roscoe erf]

But then there is the grey area,
Builder or ground worker for example, can transport digger etc, and tools for work, and be exempt from above,
I believe,

Within 60 miles of base but domestic rules apply

 

[Lakesdigger]

Are so I’m okay then.
My tri axle 20 ft trailer weighs less than 1020 kg

As long as what's on the trailer is yours, yes.

 

[puppet]

Are so I’m okay then.
My tri axle 20 ft trailer weighs less than 1020 kg

No it is related to the max permissible weight which is probably 5t all in. And you are using it for business.

DVSA are happy to take any phone calls about it including all your details and reg number

 

[grainboy]

See, the rules and opinions are so murky, that
no wonder no one actually knows the rules and regs,

 

[Lakesdigger]

See, the rules and opinions are so murky, that
no wonder no one actually knows the rules and regs,

I wasn't aware of the small trailer exemption until recently and i think it's existed since 2011. Not even the govt/dvsa website is easy to follow or have all the information in one place.

 

[JP1]

I've decided to no longer answer these questions as everyone who wants to blag breaking the rules actually shoots down someone quoting the actual rules

So my revised advice is JFDI until you are JFC

 

[The Jolly Farmer]

I wasn't aware of the small trailer exemption until recently and i think it's existed since 2011. Not even the govt/dvsa website is easy to follow or have all the information in one place.

I take great delight at winding up instructors at CPC courses asking why those that have pickup/trailer combinations exceeding 3.5-ton don't have operator licenses, tachos and CPC.
One instructor had been asked by a local machinery ring to look into the rules regarding pickup/trailer combinations and quoted the small trailer exemption.
Whats the unladen weight of a tri axle livestock trailer with sheep decks?

 

[Boydvalley]

Whats the unladen weight of a tri axle livestock trailer with sheep decks?

Ifor with wheels outside is 1450kg. Nugent 1560kg

 

[Nearly]

I do like the sound of the small trailer exemption.
Downloaded.

 

[roscoe erf]

I do like the sound of the small trailer exemption.
Downloaded.

I hope you read it cause its full of traps

Changes to operator licensing rules for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes towing small trailers
The rules are only changing for users of vehicles working for Hire or Reward. Note: the following does not apply to dual purpose vehicles when towing trailers (see below*).
From 4 December 2011, if you are using a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight of less than 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes) and are towing a small trailer with an unladen weight of less than 1,020kg the following will apply in respect of the requirement to obtain a Standard Operators Licence:

•  You will be exempt from operator licensing unless you are operating for hire or reward (see description below). This is referred to as operating on your own account.
•  You will require a Standard Goods Vehicle Operators Licence where you are carrying other people’s goods for hire or reward (e.g. working as a courier, removal firm or other freight transport business) when the vehicle and trailer combination exceeds 3500kgs (3.5 tonnes) Maximum Authorised Mass. The reason is that from the 4 December the weight calculation must include any trailer attached (irrespective of the trailer’s weight).
  For those operating such vehicles towing heavier trailers (than 1020kg unladen weight) or goods vehicles with Maximum Authorised Mass greater than 3500kgs the scope of requirements for needing an operator’s licence remain as before the 4th December 2011.
  * “Dual purpose” vehicles
  Under Schedule 3 (2) of the goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995 "a dual purpose vehicle and any trailer drawn by it" is identified as exempt from goods vehicle operator licensing.
  The dual purpose category generally includes cars, estates, pickups (with a second row of seats (crew cab) only), and domestic 4x4 vehicles such as Land Rovers, Jeeps, and other similar vehicles below 2040kgs unladen weight.
  What is not Hire or Reward
  You are NOT usually operating for Hire or Reward when you carry goods you own or goods you have used or will use in the course of your business.
  Operating for Hire or Reward - Next Steps
  If you are operating for hire or reward, you will need to apply for a goods vehicle operator’s licence. The forms required can be obtained from:
  
  http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/forms/lorryoperatorlicensingforms/lorryoperatorlicensingforms.htm
  If you have further queries you should contact:
  VOSA enquiries: E-mail: [email protected]
  National Number: 0300 123 9000 (Monday to Friday - 7.30am until 6.00pm)

Issued: 23 December 2011

 

[JP1]

I do like the sound of the small trailer exemption.
Downloaded.

For what exactly though?

"If both the towing vehicle and trailer have ministry/manufacturer’s plates and the trailer’s unladen weight is over 1,020kg, then you’ll need one if the vehicle and trailer gross weights add up to over 3.5 tonnes. If the trailer’s unladen weight is less than 1,020kg, but the towing vehicle grosses at above 3.5 tonnes then you’ll need one too.

If the vehicle and trailer do not have ministry/manufacturer’s plates, the trailer’s unladen weight is over 1,020kg and the sum of the vehicle and trailer unladen weights is over 1,525kg, then yet again, an O licence is needed. If the trailer’s unladen weight is below 1,020kg, but the plate-less towing vehicle’s unladen weight exceeds 1,525kg, then an O licence is required under these circumstances too."

 

[Cowabunga]

DVSA do seem to be having a bit of a purge at the moment, not just HGV's, pickups and vans are getting pulled a lot as well. Some of these newer 3.5t pickups have pathetic payloads and many are bing caught out

What you probably mean is that the 1 ton payload pickups have a lower payload in the deck when actually towing 3.5 tons. The Ranger, for instance, comes down to about 400kgs if I remember correctly but it includes the lowball nose weight, so hardly any cargo can . However if the trailer weighs less, then the pickup’s laden weight can be increases pro-rata.

 

[Tubbylew]

Why is something so simple so complicated in this country, it's bonkers, it's that complicated very few people know whether they're breaking the law or not. I can't help but think they'd be better off making the right thing easy with regards to the bureaucratic nonsense that seems to surround transporting stuff from A to B. Who knows maybe if it was easier to run a lorry some of these massive tractor and trailer outfits would be more inclined to use more sensible equipment.

 

[Cowabunga]

It’s not that complicated when it comes to dual purpose vehicles towing for yourself, not for hire or reward. What is needed is a simple to follow Venn diagram or dendrogram [flow chart].

 

[JP1]

Why is something so simple so complicated in this country, it's bonkers, it's that complicated very few people know whether they're breaking the law or not. I can't help but think they'd be better off making the right thing easy with regards to the bureaucratic nonsense that seems to surround transporting stuff from A to B. Who knows maybe if it was easier to run a lorry some of these massive tractor and trailer outfits would be more inclined to use more sensible equipment.

Maybe it suits most farmers to have it grey and not enforced and with a smattering of exemptions compared with your average Joe equally trying to make a simple living when towing?

Then you get a few who blatantly want to push the bounds and f it up for everyone else

 

[roscoe erf]

It’s not that complicated when it comes to dual purpose vehicles towing for yourself, not for hire or reward. What is needed is a simple to follow Venn diagram or dendrogram [flow chart].

yes it is if its in connection with a business regardless of if its your stuff or not you will need tachos operators licence in some cases if with in the 100km radius of your registered address and carrying tools in connection with your work there is ulw gvw to go in the mix then there is the type of tow vehicle etc etc etc I could go on but there is no real point

 

[Cowabunga]

yes it is if its in connection with a business regardless of if its your stuff or not you will need tachos operators licence in some cases if with in the 100km radius of your registered address and carrying tools in connection with your work there is ulw gvw to go in the mix then there is the type of tow vehicle etc etc etc I could go on but there is no real point

None whatsoever.

 

[roscoe erf]

None whatsoever.

just as I thought