Check list for being legal

[Mike H]

Hi

Just started and want to make sure I'm legal...

 

a) Landrover 110 + 5'x8' Indespension trailer with brakes....Total unladen weight 2.5 tons. Add 1m3 of wood and total weight must be around 3 tons.

 

b) Licence allows me to drive Category C1+E which is medium sized vehicles with a trailer over 750kg, but the trailer - when fully loaded - can’t weigh more than the vehicle.

 

Obviously need commercial insurance but any legal requirements I'm missing?!

 

thanks...

[Mark Bolam]

How many have you had?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Daniël Bos]

What's the wood for, who's is it and where are you taking it?

[Mike H]

Hi Rover

Wood has been processed into logs and is for paying customers. The wood has mostly been sourced from my own woodland plus some bought by me from local farmers.

[Daniël Bos]

Then you need a tacho in y'er towing vehicle as your towing a trailer for hire or reward.

 

Also, depending on how many you've had, you may need to employ another driver?

[Wood wasp]

Do you need tacho if gross train weight less than 3.5t?

[Mike H]

Hi Wood wasp

 

My understanding is that you do not need a tacho under 3.5t but you do need to keep a log of your hours if you are 50km away from your operating base or you drive more than 4 hours in a day. I assume the log or record must be comprehensive.

 

Anybody do this?!

[Alycidon]

Do you need tacho if gross train weight less than 3.5t?

 

No, but its the theoretical max weight not the actual weight being carried.

 

So lets look at the max laden weight of the trailer, I think you are saying 2.5 tonnes, that the maximum LADEN weight when fully loaded, deduct the unladen weight of the trailer, perhaps 500kg and you have you maximum cargo weight capacity. Think the trailer you have is this one or close to

 

GT26085 | GT Range | Goods | Business | Trailer Range

 

So you have the weight of the Landrover at perhaps 2.5 tonnes plus the weight of the trailer fully laden at 2.6 tonnes, = 5.1 tonnes.

 

That is over 3.5 so yes you do need a Tacho, abide by drivers hours regs and keep your discs for a few months. However you do NOT need a driver CPC or operating centre. You only use the discs when doing work for hire/reward, ie carrying goods that you are going to be paid for. You must keep the disc in on your return journey when empty.

 

In practise you can easily carry 2 cubic meters or even 2 stacked crates.

 

A

Edited March 27, 2015 by Alycidon

[Mike H]

Thanks Alycidon

 

So if you deliver logs to a customer using just the landrover.... no taco required?

 

Also, if you are collecting wood with the trailer, and bringing it home for processing, you are not yet towing a trailer for 'reward' so don't need a taco for that journey... correct?

[Wood wasp]

Thanks for clarification Alycidon. Doesn't really make sense though, after all most people have a car capable of exceeding 100mph yet the speed limit is at most 70mph