When do I need an operators licence/tacho?

[APC]

Oh Christ.

 

Passed my trailer test last week and asked about what I can actually do now. Got a clear as mud answer. For B+E though, that hopefully means I can be maximum weight including vehicle, trailer and load, of 3.5t. I'm sure that I could do that before though so long as the trailer and load didn't exceed 750kg. Arrrgghh.

[Peter]

APC, you can tow a trailer of up to 3500kg, or the maximum permitted trailer towing weight of the vehicle, whichever is the lower.

 

Potentially that gives you a total maximum authorised mass of 7000kg, if you had a 3.5 tonne vehicle towing a 3.5 tonne trailer.

[Arbocop]

Hi Big O ben

 

what you will note from al lthe replys you have had is just how complex this is. And as said certain things you oftern 'get away with' but for instanceevery day this week on the a14 between copdoc and stowmarket vosa have been there tugging stuff, particually landrovers and trailers.

 

my council to you is every reginol office has a sligtly differant take on this, and every vosa inspector also has a sligtly differant takeon it. if you are considering going down a rought that will take you in to the relm of the o licenec look up your loal office.

 

give them a ring, explain what it is you intend to do and ask the inspectr to come and chat, they are quite plesent and will help you as much as possible as it will make their life esier in the long run.

 

lots of the advice above is good and acurate, but its the inspector who will procicute you if you get it wrong so ask him.

 

hope that helps

 

kev

[renewablejohn]

I agree with Arbocop. When I got stopped by VOSA it wasted 2 hours of my time but the important thing was everything had already been documented by the local test station at Chadderton when the truck was tested so eventually my circumstances could be confirmed.

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

New to this interesting forum but been in the trade for 20+ seasons.

 

I have checked all the PDF's from DVLA/VOSA and all vehicles unladen 1525KG and trailers 1020KG have to be "O" licenced and have an electronic "Spy in the Cabin" if used to earn a living with. (A Land Rover 90 Pickup is over this unladen weight)

 

The reason we all have to do this paperwork and needless costs to small business is to keep the civil servants in work.

 

I have stuck in Agriculture/Forestry although the income monies is less than Tree Surgery as there is much less hassle. We can legally run a machine with no MOT/TAX and low insurance and tow two trailers to a site!!

[bingoben]

New to this interesting forum but been in the trade for 20+ seasons.

 

I have checked all the PDF's from DVLA/VOSA and all vehicles unladen 1525KG and trailers 1020KG have to be "O" licenced and have an electronic "Spy in the Cabin" if used to earn a living with. (A Land Rover 90 Pickup is over this unladen weight)

 

The reason we all have to do this paperwork and needless costs to small business is to keep the civil servants in work.

 

I have stuck in Agriculture/Forestry although the income monies is less than Tree Surgery as there is much less hassle. We can legally run a machine with no MOT/TAX and low insurance and tow two trailers to a site!!

 

hi T.L.,

I am in forestry rather than tree surgery too. How are you running machines without mot/tax. Do you mean tractors? I presume you use two towing vehicles to tow two trailers? Very interested to hear more.

[treequip]

 

The reason we all have to do this paperwork and needless costs to small business is to keep the civil servants in work.

 

 

Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

 

My opinion is that the “O” licence and other regulation is there to prevent muppets in poorly maintained vehicles on the arse end of a 14 hour shift having at the road where innocent members of the public move their loved ones around.

[Tree cutter Stu]

Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

 

My opinion is that the “O” licence and other regulation is there to prevent muppets in poorly maintained vehicles on the arse end of a 14 hour shift having at the road where innocent members of the public move their loved ones around.

 

very true

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

Well rules are made but it still does not stop some breaking them. (Speeding/Overloading are to name a few) I take pride in having a clean licence but think that GB is drowning in excessive regulations instead of common sense.

 

Slightly off topic but I have noticed how many folks use chainsaws without decent approved gloves but consider themselves professionals. (even in the trade magazines and adverts)

[skyhuck]

Slightly off topic but I have noticed how many folks use chainsaws without decent approved gloves but consider themselves professionals. (even in the trade magazines and adverts)

 

Gloves are no longer mandatory.