Truck Regulations

[Neversweat]

Who does, and where are, these inspections done?

The 6 weekly type inspections have to be carried out by a "competent" person - in practice normally either the dealership the truck came from or an independent repairer.The inspection sheet is the same as the annual test carried out by the Ministry.
You have to note any defects found and repairs carried out and keep the records for 2 years.If you have a poor pass rate at the annual test the ministry will do a fleet inspection and come and check all your records and maintenance provision.

Steve

[Jack]

Cat 1 - 40-80ton
Cat 2 - 80-150ton
cat 3 - 150ton and above

Sorry jack...wrong.....

Cat 1 50 tonnes gross.. 11.5tonnes max axle loads
Cat 2 80 tonnes gross.. 12.5tonnes max axle loads
Cat 3 150 tonnes gross..16.5tonnes max axle loads

Also speed restrictions apply to these different categories, also the relevant police and highway authorities require notification of intention to move..

every vehicle that is used under STGO regulations is required to carry a plate from the manufacturers showing speeds vs allowed weights..

an insight in to the regulations is here....
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/drivingforwork/largeorheavyloads/backgroundanddefinitions?page=1
Dave

Almost

[martyn williams]

I was up in tc tractors country yesterday on a call out at Spetchley.Saw a few lorrys pulled in the VOSA inspection layby on the A449.Was thinking of popping in to see if Tony was home, but got called back to Newport.

[Sotrekker]

It seems like things aren't much different over there. The authorities regulate, regulate, regulate, regulate.......

at least they dont have to deal with the truck loving states of New York and California eh denick

[v64paul]

we've just been introduced to daf-check. when we do an inspection on a customers vehicle we now go on line to fill in a virtual inspection sheet. a copy goes to daf and if the customer subscribes to it he recieves a copy via e-mail. the benefits are supposed to be entirely for the customer of course. ultimately VOSA will be able to access the database at the roadside and greatly assist them in choosing which vehicles to pick at random... i say at random with tongue in cheek because recently we have seen a lot of irish reg vehicles being pulled. with the info being instant there is of course no chance of being able to be flexible with the date on the paperwork if your truck should happen to miss it's service by a day (week) or two. daf are pretty sure that other manufacturers will have to follow as it's such a powerful tool for VOSA. at present as a service dealer we can see the records for any truck in the network, the customer can only have access if he subscribes at a cost of around £600 per year. bearing in mind that cost covers only one location, big companies like wincanton for example will obviously need more. it's likely to be compulsory eventually.

[IANOZ]

HI guys IT makes me so glad i live in australia after reading that lot .HERE UNder 4.5 ton GVM [gross vehicle mass ] are not inspected .ALL single drive body trucks GO to a local garage for a roadworthy inspection once a year,cant pay registration without it . Single drive prime movers and all other ten wheeler trucks and bigger go for a state government machinery inspection once a year. NO other TAX apart from registration $2000 per year for a tandem drive tip truck 22.5 ton GVM WE do have Main roads inspectors doing random inspections . I have had a truck license for over 30 years ,not a full time truck driver by any means ,but only ever been pulled up twice in that time. post more later if anyones interested. ian.

[Neversweat]

Ian,

How are the drivers hours checked/enforced ? Is it by tachograph like here ?

Steve

[IANOZ]

NO mate BY log book if they get pulled up .NEw books and regulations just come in . I have done 3 800 km round trips picking up machines we have bought recently saw no one . THE inspectors are out there but very rarely see them . WE only do local work so ever now and then they will drive through town and harass a couple of trucks WITH UHF cb radios the word soon gets around their about. THE truckies on the highways tell each other where the speedcameras and highway patrol cars are on the uhf"s and hardlyever get done. Trucks are supposed to be speed limted to 100km per hour by most seem to be bypasted..ian.

[RichardJW~]

we've just been introduced to daf-check. when we do an inspection on a customers vehicle we now go on line to fill in a virtual inspection sheet. a copy goes to daf and if the customer subscribes to it he recieves a copy via e-mail. the benefits are supposed to be entirely for the customer of course. ultimately VOSA will be able to access the database at the roadside and greatly assist them in choosing which vehicles to pick at random... i say at random with tongue in cheek because recently we have seen a lot of irish reg vehicles being pulled. with the info being instant there is of course no chance of being able to be flexible with the date on the paperwork if your truck should happen to miss it's service by a day (week) or two. daf are pretty sure that other manufacturers will have to follow as it's such a powerful tool for VOSA. at present as a service dealer we can see the records for any truck in the network, the customer can only have access if he subscribes at a cost of around £600 per year. bearing in mind that cost covers only one location, big companies like wincanton for example will obviously need more. it's likely to be compulsory eventually.

Does that mean that in time the only 'competent' person who will be allowed to service the truck will be the dealer?

[IANOZ]

This trucking game in UK sounds like a very expensive thing to be in. I run a tandem drive hino fs tipper and my son has a mack metroliner tipper OUR costs are .Diesel fuel $1.14 a litre, REgestration $2100 per year . IF you tow a trailer over 9 ton gvm rego goes up to $4000 per year I think plus $500 per axle on the trailer.Inspections are about $140 yearly plus about $70 if you have a major defect and have to bring it back for reinspection, very rare that you dont have to take it back. Bigger companys can do a planed mantaninace program with there own fitters doing monthly check.and dont have to do a yearly inspection .A mate worked as a fitter for one of this mobs, he said a trailer came in that hadn't been seen in over 4 months that he had been there. He found the brake linings and drums buggered his boss told him put new linings on but don't worry about the brake drums then made him sign to say trailer pased A OK . I think he left that job soon after.. Tandem drive body trucks gvm is 22.5 ton on springs and ithink 24 ton on air bags tandem trailers are 16.5 ton gvm tri axle trailers 20 tongvm Our fuel we can claim back 10% gst and we can claim 18 centa a litre in fuel subsitity WE charge $100 per hour plus $10 gst we get to collect for the goverment. . WHAT 'S your costs ??? ian.