Should the AA approve contractors who run 3.5 ton trucks?

[Big 'Ammer]

We all know that 3.5 to trucks are going to be overloaded in tree work.

So the AA or councils approving contractors who use them must be turning a blind eye to this, unlawful, dangerous, work practice.. Should they be?

 

and if it's OK to be overloaded is it OK to skirt round other H&S?

 

What an utterly ridiculous sweeping statement.

 

Its all about the work you do and how you work.

 

We have a Transit tipper.

 

I am very confident indeed that we do not run overloaded in the course of our work.

 

I don't care what other people do, or don't do.

[gensetsteve]

I dont think reduceing the regulations on 5 tonners to that of light vans would be a good idea. Maybe a half way house say 4 month checks and an easier and cheaper operators licence. Any pee brain can currently run a van but running a 7 tonner requires a bit more balls and proffessionalism. Its bad enough with overloaded 3.5 tonne transits I dont fancy being hit by an overloaded 5 tonne truck on a dark night.

[likeitorlumpit]

simple

get a cabstar tipper

must have had 4 cube plus on and still 3.3 tonnes plus driver

within the law so .... of fine

[tommer9]

Had a bad day Ben?

[benedmonds]

It was just a point for discusion really.

 

I still run 3.5 tonners and have for 8 years. We still have and old smiley transit and a 130. The transit is a great truck fot tree work, did everything I ever asked just was always over weight. With just tools on it was 2.8 tons.

 

I was chatting to a guy with a 3.5 ton long wheel base crew cab tipper, it must be nearly 3 tons empty and you could put 3 tons of chip in the back.

 

What annoys me is that some simple to do H&S that may have little value is enforced when other obvious but more tricky is just swept under the carpet.

[benedmonds]

Had a bad day Ben?

 

Bad couple of weeks....

[benedmonds]

[quote name=

We have a Transit tipper.

 

I am very confident indeed that we do not run overloaded in the course of our work.[/quote]

 

Do you fill it with chip? or only ever take half a load..

[tommer9]

Bad couple of weeks....

 

Sorry to hear that mate.

[treesnatcher]

my crew cab ,not a transit its a citroen relay with steel cage weighs 2.48 with men and tools. And it weighs 3.49 with just over ton of chip,only half full, (never carried more honest) is as big as i could run without moving house or taking a proper yard. No way i would get operators license with "on street parking" so i dont have much choice yet. Dreading the vosa day. will still be cheaper to pay the fine. Roughly £1/kg first time i understand.

[gensetsteve]

What has crossed my mind is there must be figures out there for the amount of accidents caused by overloaded 3.5 tonne trucks . i would guess its low compared to chavs under the influence of drink and drugs on a friday night ragging there 15 year old corsas around suberbia.