Overloaded

[Ian C]

That's this country all over though ! Make every thing covered by so much red tape no one is interested, certainly anything up to 6.5t shouldn't be classed as hgv imo. Cut the bs and red tape and allow drivers upto 6.5t on a normal licence but make the fines for over loading sting if caught and the amount of 3.5t trucks dragging there arse around would go down over night but no, the powers that be don't what that because all the o licence stuff is a massive cash cow!

Edited April 26, 2016 by Ian C

[treequip]

That's this country all over though ! Make every thing covered by so much red tape no one is interested, certainly anything up to 6.5t shouldn't be classed as hgv imo. Cut the bs and red tape and allow drivers upto 6.5t on a normal licence but make the fines for over loading sting if caught and the amount of 3.5t trucks dragging there arse around would go down over night but no, the powers that be don't what that because all the o licence stuff is a massive cash cow!

 

So if we accept that people will overload, the "disaster" potential goes up exponentially with larger vehicles. A 3500 mam vehicle can only be so overloaded before its on the bump stops where larger vehicles don't show the overload quite as badly.

 

Time was, a brand new driver could get into 7.5 tons the day they passed. Back in the day when crusties like you and I started there was a lot less on the roads, vehicles were generally a lot slower and things weren't so hectic.

 

 

Who is the licence system a cash cow for? A licence will cost you a tax deductible £650 so it works out at just over hundred pounds a year. You can do your own inspections or contract them out but there isn't anything onerous there, lets allow a generous (deductible) hundred pounds for tacho charts, "yorkie" bars and the like.

 

On the benefits side you will have a bigger vehicle that will spend less time off site to tip off meaning more production. If we assume a tip off run averages 45 mins for the round trip and say that's three times a week that's going to give you more than 2 hours back. Multiply that by your rate for a gang of lads

[Ian C]

So if we accept that people will overload, the "disaster" potential goes up exponentially with larger vehicles. A 3500 mam vehicle can only be so overloaded before its on the bump stops where larger vehicles don't show the overload quite as badly.

 

Time was, a brand new driver could get into 7.5 tons the day they passed. Back in the day when crusties like you and I started there was a lot less on the roads, vehicles were generally a lot slower and things weren't so hectic.

 

 

Who is the licence system a cash cow for? A licence will cost you a tax deductible £650 so it works out at just over hundred pounds a year. You can do your own inspections or contract them out but there isn't anything onerous there, lets allow a generous (deductible) hundred pounds for tacho charts, "yorkie" bars and the like.

 

On the benefits side you will have a bigger vehicle that will spend less time off site to tip off meaning more production. If we assume a tip off run averages 45 mins for the round trip and say that's three times a week that's going to give you more than 2 hours back. Multiply that by your rate for a gang of lads

 

Yeah valid points and human nature says what ever the vehicle people will over load, cost wise it's nowt for "us crusties " but for the younger ones there is a fair cost involved and there is little wonder they risk it all the time. Inspections are costing me 100 quid every 10 weeks so no biggie and i get to know my vehicle is spot on is great rather than ragging a 3.5t for a year then an mot. Just seems this county is rapped up in red tape.

[richy_B]

Kit and crew weight is often overlooked when doing the sums in your head. My l200 is about 1900kg kerb weight. With a full tank of fuel, a few big saws, tool box, fuel can, personal bags and three guys it was coming in at 2300kg.

[timbernut]

Car breaker near me replaced is tranny beaver tail with a newer crew cab one, first motor he picked up he was stopped by ministry and was 300kg over with just him n his boy in the cab, sold it immediately!

[Arbtech Tree Services]

So 'fess up people - who was having to dump their chip around 9am this morning at Leatherhead VOSA weighbridge? Just caught a glimpse as I joined the motorway, looked like a white tranny with some pale green writing on - could have said Green Leaves?

 

Regards,

 

Steve.

[Mark Bolam]

Probably me Steve, Ive got loads of magnetics.

[Arbtech Tree Services]

All good Mark, stopped them noticing the 60' x 20' steel frame and timbers for the new barn on my trailer.....

 

Regards,

 

Steve.

[Al Cormack]

A consequence of being overloaded. 5.3t on a 3.5t vehicle. Chassis broke!😱

 

 

Not mine I hasten to add!

[skc101fc]

Ooooohh that looks expensive. Wouldn't want to be the one telling the boss about that one.