Looking at upgrading to 5.5 or 7.5 ton grafter

[allseasons]

Help please if we upgrade to a 5.5/7.5 grafter do we need to carry out 6weekly checks? Also on the information I have found it states that I don’t need a tahco if within 65miles of vase and carrying goods for my work?

Anyone know the full story and what is required please and any info would be magic as most gov sites say very little.

[Ian C]

Yes you will need a maintenance contract with a local garage, no big issue and yes you will need to do 8 weekly inspections, I'm now on 12 weekly due to limited mileage. Don't forget you will need an O licence. The Taco thing is a bit gray, technically you don't depending on your train weight and distance but i have one fitted and use it, again no big issue, I got pulled into a weighbridge a couple of months ago and they downloaded of the unit, was easier than trying to explain why we didn't use it.

[allseasons]

The olicense can’t be your home address I take it?

[aspenarb]

48 minutes ago, allseasons said:

The olicense can’t be your home address I take it?

Its ok to run from home if you have off road parking, the application will go through if there are no complaints from neighbours or the council. Allow a bit of time for the whole process because it can drag on a bit. For what you are doing you will only need a restricted Olicense, you wont need the driver CPC and you can run tacho exempt. As Ian says depending on mileage you can extend from 8 to 12 weekly inspections. You will need to leave a few quid in the bank to prove financial standing.

 

Bob

[allseasons]

Brillaint well we are right at the back of a building site and no neighbours as yet!! Thank u guys fpr all your help! When u say few quid how much we talking?

[Ian C]

You have to prove you have "Available finances" to look after the truck, the first truck is 3k this can be an overdraft cash in the bank and at a push a credit card, you send proof off with the application. it all sounds hard work but its not and well worth it.

 

when you apply put down you are applying to run 2 trucks as if you want another and you only have one on your licence you have to apply for the second. 

[allseasons]

Ok brilliant i am
Going to go sown this route as fed up of running over weight and means the trucks are monitored better and we are running things above board

[aspenarb]

Re the finances, this has to be available at all times or it may lead to a license being revoked. Just dump it into a deposit account and forget about it ,you can never be sure when they will visit and do  a spot check.

 

Bob

[benedmonds]

1 hour ago, aspenarb said:

Re the finances, this has to be available at all times or it may lead to a license being revoked. Just dump it into a deposit account and forget about it ,you can never be sure when they will visit and do  a spot check.

 

Bob

That is the first time time I have heard that, we have had an o licence for at least 10 years and never had any checks. 

[aspenarb]

23 minutes ago, benedmonds said:

That is the first time time I have heard that, we have had an o licence for at least 10 years and never had any checks. 

 

Its the way it is now, ours is a standard national for four trucks and three trailers so a tad more than restricted and that needs to available at all times.

 

Blurb

2020 financial levels confirmed for commercial vehicle operators - GOV.UK

WWW.GOV.UK

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Reviewed criteria applies to existing haulage, bus and coach operators and new applicants.