Fresh legislation for digital tachographs and hazardous goods has reignited VOSA’s attention to detail. If you run 3.5 tonne vans with a tow bar then make sure you have the right license, qualifications and equipment…or suffer the consequences.
The raft of recent legislations concerning digital tachographs and hazardous goods introduced by the European Union has escaped most van operators.
Just to remind you; tachographs are only needed for combinations than exceed 3.5 tonnes, i.e. van and trailer, making the driver subject to European Union driving regulations, even 4x4s or pick ups that pull trailers and exceed the 3.5 tonne gross-combination-weight (GCW) need a tachograph.
Digital tachographs, for vehicles registered after post 1st May 2006, must be fitted and it’s provided several problems; not all 4x4 and SUV’s are compatible and many drivers don’t have the digital smart card to insert or the right training.
Thus selective targeting by VOSA means small trade businesses and construction companies are running aground. VOSA project leader for digital tachographs Barry Ricks says some people do not understanding exactly what the law is, with VOSA pulling over a van with a trailer purely because it could be over the GCW threshold.
If it doesn’t have a tachograph, and isn’t compliant to EU driving law, a conviction would be pursued through the courts for the driver and the company for not ensuring its vehicles and drivers were properly equipped. Next year the offence is part of the government’s fixed penalty system for transport.
Stories continue to circulate of VOSA parking up outside of company premises and waiting for vehicles with trailers to emerge. “Strict enforcement by VOSA towards operators with over loading front axles on lightweight trailers hauled by 3.5 tonne vans has produced results,” he said. “Whether it’s a disproportionate clampdown is negligible if so many operators are flouting the law.”
The one that might catch out van users though is the end of the driver exemption grace period for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes exceeding the load threshold for hazardous goods when grace ends on 1st January 2007.
While limited qualities of packaged items like for example aerosol cans and flammable liquids are OK operators who carry bigger hazardous cargo for site work in barrels need to know how much they can carry legally.
Dangerous goods manager at the Freight Transport Association Chris MacRae says you need to know what the rating category is for the dangerous goods you carry to see whether you need to have orange plates attached to the vehicle, and a qualified driver behind the wheel.