• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

Impounded Trailer

Vinterceptor

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
I've never heard of owt like this happening before...
My mate is a surveyor and has his own surveying company in Scotland. Last monday his son was working in Wick (he runs my mates surveying company), he went up in his Shogun towing a trailer as he had to bring a load of ground core samples back to southern Scotland.
Near Inverness he was pulled over by the Ministry of Transport for vehicle checks. The weight was ok at 2500kg, but they told him the vehicle had to be fitted with a Tachograph as it is classed as a commercial vehicle ?? The trailer is now impounded in Inverness.
At work we use Transit tippers, sometimes with trailers on but none of ours have a tacho fitted either. I know there are some learned peeps on here.. what do you reckon???
 

slim63

Never surrender
Club Sponsor
There were muttering recently about this coming into force, from what I remember they wanted anything commercial or for business use to be fitted with tacho's in an attempt to stop white van man doing 100 hours a week at the wheel & falling asleep ............... I hadn't heard it had become law though :confused::confused:
 

Vinterceptor

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
There were muttering recently about this coming into force, from what I remember they wanted anything commercial or for business use to be fitted with tacho's in an attempt to stop white van man doing 100 hours a week at the wheel & falling asleep ............... I hadn't heard it had become law though :confused::confused:

Sounds feasable? I understand that the setup (trailer) he had was rated up to 3000kg. We have a similar one at work which carts a 2500kg mini digger around, after purchasing it they discovered that the tipper transits where not plated/allowed to pull that much load Duh..! As a result we have to use a land rover or range rover to tow ours, as they are rated high enough. I suspect thats a similar reason for them using a Shogun. Anyway, he has been quoted £1500 to fit a tacho
 

Vinterceptor

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
Hertz vans do not have tachos fitted.
Hmm interesting, when I go back to work after my hols I will go and check the utility firm just down the road from us they must have about 50 transits towing mini diggers and the like.
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
They cannot have it all..
If a vehicle is rated at over 3500kg private of business road tax is £165 .. no matter what.. My motorhome falls into that at 5250kg
If the shogun ( which is far less than 3500kg ) is on £165 a year then it is registered as commercial and nowadays has to have a tacho.
If however the road tax is for the 'normal' rate it is not registered as commercial and does not need a tacho..

Sooo..... the question is, how much road tax is payed on the Shogun ?
 

Ajeman

Registered User
Read Only
They cannot have it all..
If a vehicle is rated at over 3500kg private of business road tax is £165 .. no matter what.. My motorhome falls into that at 5250kg
If the shogun ( which is far less than 3500kg ) is on £165 a year then it is registered as commercial and nowadays has to have a tacho.
If however the road tax is for the 'normal' rate it is not registered as commercial and does not need a tacho..

Sooo..... the question is, how much road tax is payed on the Shogun ?

Jaws,

I don't think it works like that. I believe it's the use that determines if it should have a tacho and not the class of vehicle. Apparently, even having a towbar fitted is enough to trigger the requirement as it will then be the Gross Train Weight (If you have a 3 ton car and it's plated to be able to pull 2 ton then the train weight will be 5 ton and will need a tacho, regardless if your actually towing a trailer or not). This is all provided that it's being used for business purposes, as if not it's exempt.

There is also a list of exemptions (including being limited to 100km distance from base) so will need to be looked into, but from the information provided I think he's fallen foul of the law and will be liable for prosecution.

That's how I read the rules anyway, but some of the fleet sites have articles on the subject so may be worth a read.

Regards,

Alex
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
Jaws,

I don't think it works like that. I believe it's the use that determines if it should have a tacho and not the class of vehicle. Apparently, even having a towbar fitted is enough to trigger the requirement as it will then be the Gross Train Weight (If you have a 3 ton car and it's plated to be able to pull 2 ton then the train weight will be 5 ton and will need a tacho, regardless if your actually towing a trailer or not). This is all provided that it's being used for business purposes, as if not it's exempt.

There is also a list of exemptions (including being limited to 100km distance from base) so will need to be looked into, but from the information provided I think he's fallen foul of the law and will be liable for prosecution.

That's how I read the rules anyway, but some of the fleet sites have articles on the subject so may be worth a read.

Regards,

Alex
That is definately not right.. It would mean almost every motorhome out there would need a tacho ( unless they are exempt ? Have you a link to the exemption list ?
 
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