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The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

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AE+W+SLADEN WEIGHT

Maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicleE+W+S

75.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), the laden weight of a vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the maximum permitted laden weight specified in that item in column 3.

(2) The maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicle first used before 1st June 1973 which falls in item 1 or 2 shall not be less than would be the case if the vehicle fell in item 9.

TABLE

(regulation 75(1))

12 3
ItemClass of vehicle Maximum permitted laden weight
(kg)
1A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car which is not described in items [F11A, 2,] 4 or 5 and which complies with the relevant braking requirement [F2(see regulation 78(3) to (6) in relation to buses)] [F3The weight determined in accordance with Part I of Schedule 11]
[F41A

A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car which is not described initem 2, 4, or 5, which complies with the relevant braking requirementand in which—

(a)

every driving axle not being a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres; and

(b)

either every driving axle is fitted with road friendly suspension or no axle has an axle weight exceeding 9,500kg.

The weight determined in accordance with Part IA of Schedule 11]
2A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car (not being an agricultural motor vehicle) which forms part of an articulated vehicle and which complies with the relevant braking requirementThe weight specified in column (5) in Part II of Schedule 11 in the item which is appropriate having regard to columns (2), (3) and (4) in that Part
3A wheeled trailer, including a composite trailer, but not including a semi-trailer, which is drawn by a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car which complies with the relevant braking requirement, other than a trailer described in items 6, 7, 8 or 11As for item 1
[F54An articulated bus (see regulation 78(3) to (5))27,000]
5 A wheeled agricultural motor vehicle As for item 1, but subject to a maximum of 24,390
6A balanced agricultural trailer, as defined in paragraph (4), which is not described in items 8, 11 or 16 As for item 1, but subject to a maximum of 18,290
7An unbalanced agricultural trailer, as defined in paragraph (4) which is not described in items 8, 11 or 16 18,290 inclusive of the weight imposed by the trailer on the drawing vehicle
8A wheeled trailer manufactured on or after 27th February 1977 and fitted with brakes which automatically come into operation on the over-run of the trailer (whether or not it is fitted with any other brake), except an agricultural trailer which is being drawn by an agricultural motor vehicle, which complies with the requirements specified in items 3, 14 and 17 of Schedule 3 and of which the brakes can be applied either by the driver of the drawing vehicle or by some other person on that vehicle or on the trailer3,500
9 A wheeled heavy motor car or motor car not described in items 1, 2, 4 or 5—
(a) with not more than 4 wheels14,230
(b) with more than 4 but not more than 6 wheels20,330
(c) with more than 6 wheels 24,390
10A wheeled trailer not described in items 3, 6, 7, 8 or 11 having less than 6 wheels, and not forming part of an articulated vehicle; and an agricultural trailed appliance14,230
11

A trailer manufactured before 27th February 1977 and having no brakes other than—

(i) a parking brake and

(ii) brakes which come into operation on the overrun of the trailer

3,560
12A wheeled locomotive, not described in item 5, which is equipped with suitable and sufficient springs between each wheel and the vehicle's frame and with a pneumatic tyre or a tyre of soft or elastic material fitted to each wheel—
(a) if having less than 6 wheels 22,360
(b) if having 6 wheels26,420
(c) if having more than 6 wheels 30,490
13A track-laying locomotive with resilient material interposed between the rims of the weight-carrying rollers and the road so that the weight of the vehicle (other than that borne by any wheels and the portion of the track in contact with the road) is supported by the resilient material.22,360
14A locomotive not described in items 5, 12 or 1320,830
15A track-laying heavy motor car or motor car22,360
16A track-laying trailer13,210

(3) The maximum total weight of all trailers, whether laden or unladen, drawn at any one time by a locomotive shall not exceed [F644,000 kg].

[F7(3A) Nothing in item 1 or 1A of the Table shall prevent a vehicle being used on a road if—

(a)a plating certificate in respect of the vehicle was in force immediately before the 1st January 1993; and

(b)the laden weight of the vehicle does not exceed the weight shown in that certificate as being the weight not to be exceeded in Great Britain.]

(4) [F8In this Part of these Regulations and in Schedule 11—]

[F9“air spring” means a spring operated by means of air or other compressible fluid under pressure;

“air suspension” means a suspension system in which at least 75 per cent of the spring effect is caused by an air spring.]

balanced agricultural trailer” means an agricultural trailer the whole of the weight of which is borne by its own wheels; and

unbalanced agricultural trailer” means an agricultural trailer of which some, but not more than 35%, of the weight is borne by the drawing vehicle and the rest of the weight is borne by its own wheels.

[F10(5) For the purposes of this Part of these Regulations and Schedule 11, an axle shall be regarded as fitted with a road friendly suspension if its suspension is—

(a)an air suspension, or

(b)a suspension, not being an air suspension, which is regarded as being equivalent to an air suspension for the purposes of Community Directive 92/7.

(6) For the purposes of this Part of these Regulations and Schedule 11, an axle shall be regarded as fitted with twin tyres if it would be regarded as fitted with twin tyres for the purposes of Community Directive 92/7.]

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 75 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

Maximum permitted laden weight of a vehicle and trailer, other than an articulated vehicleE+W+S

76.—(1) The total laden weight of a motor vehicle and the trailer or trailers (other than semi-trailers) drawn by it shall not, in a case specified in an item in column 2 of the Table, exceed the maximum permitted train weight specified in that item in column 3.

[F11(1A) This regulation is subject to Schedule 11A ([F12exemptions relating to intermodal transport operations]).]

[F13(2) In this regulation, the expressions “road friendly suspension”, “twin tyres” and “unbalanced agricultural trailer” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 75(4), (5) and (6).]

TABLE

(regulation 76(1))

12 3
ItemVehicle Combination Maximum permitted train weight
(kg)
[F141

A wheeled trailer which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where—

(a)

the combination has a total of 4 axles and is being used for international transport; and

(b)

the drawing vehicle is a vehicle which was first used on or after 1st April 1973 and complies with the relevant braking requirement

35,000]
[F141A

A wheeled trailer which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where the combination has a total of 4 axles and the following conditions are satisfied in relation to the drawing vehicle, namely—

(a)

it was first used on or after 1st April 1973;

(b)

it complies with the relevant braking requirement;

(c)

every driving axle not being a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres; and

(d)

every driving axle is fitted with road friendly suspension

35,000]
[F141AA

A wheeled trailer which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where the combination has a total of 5 or more axles and the following conditions are satisfied in relation to the drawing vehicle, namely—

(a)

it was first used on or after 1st April 1973;

(b)

it complies with the relevant braking requirement;

(c)

every driving axle not being a steering axle is fitted with twin tyres; and

(d)

either every driving axle is fitted with road friendly suspension or no axle has an axle weight exceeding 8,500kg

38,000]
[F141B

A wheeled trailer, not being part of a combination described in items 1, 1A or 1AA which is drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), where—

(a)

the trailer is fitted with power–assisted brakes which can be operated by the driver of the drawing vehicle and are not rendered ineffective by the non– rotation of its engine; and

(b)

the drawing vehicle is equipped with a warning device so placed as to be readily visible to the driver of the vehicle and which is capable of indicating any impending failure of, or deficiency in, the vacuum or pressure system

32,520]
1C

A wheeled trailer which is of a description specified in item 8 in the Table of regulation 75 drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car (not being in any case an agricultural motor vehicle), the drawing vehicle being a vehicle which—

(a) was first used on or after 1st April 1973; and

(b) complies with the relevant braking requirement

29,500
2 A wheeled agricultural motor vehicle drawing a wheeled unbalanced agricultural trailer, if the distance between the rearmost axle of the trailer and the rearmost axle of the drawing vehicle does not exceed 2.9 m20,000
[F152AA category T tractor drawing one wheeled agricultural trailer (other than (i) an agricultural trailed appliance conveyor or (ii) a wheeled unbalanced agricultural trailer where the distance between the rearmost axle of the unbalanced trailer and the rearmost axle of the drawing vehicle is 2.9 m or less).31,000]
3A wheeled trailer or trailers drawn by a wheeled motor tractor, heavy motor car, motor car or agricultural motor vehicle, not being a combination of vehicles mentioned in items 1 [F16, 1A, [F171AA,] 1B, 1C] [F18, 2 or 2A]24,390
4 A track-laying trailer drawn by a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car, whether wheeled or track-laying and a wheeled trailer, drawn by a track-laying vehicle being a motor tractor, heavy motor car or motor car22,360

Maximum permitted laden weight of an articulated vehicleE+W+S

77.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the laden weight of an articulated vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the weight specified in column 3 in that item.

TABLE

(regulation 77(1))

1 23
ItemClass of vehicle Maximum permitted laden weight
(kg)
1An articulated vehicle which complies with the relevant braking requirement.

Whichever is the lower of—

(a) the weight specified in column (3) of Part III of Schedule 11 in the item in which the spacing between the rearmost axles of the motor vehicle and the semi-trailer is specified in column (2), F19...; and

(b) if the vehicle is of a description specified in an item in column (2) of Part IV of Schedule 11, the weight specified in column (3) of that item

2An articulated vehicle which does not comply with the relevant braking requirement if the trailer has—
(a) less than 4 wheels20,330
(b) 4 wheels or more24,390

(2) This regulation does not apply to an agricultural motor vehicle, an agricultural trailer or an agricultural trailed appliance.

[F20(2A) This regulation is subject to Schedule 11A ([F21exemptions relating to intermodal transport operations]).]

[F22(3) In Part IV of Schedule 11, “road friendly suspension” and “twin tyres” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 75(5) and (6).]

Maximum permitted wheel and axle weightsE+W+S

78.—(1) The weight transmitted to the road by one or more wheels of a vehicle as mentioned in an item in column 2 of the Table shall not exceed the maximum permitted weight specified in that item in column 3.

(2) The Parts of the Table have the following application—

(a)Part I applies to wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers which comply with the relevant braking requirement and to wheeled agricultural motor vehicles, agricultural trailers and agricultural trailed appliances; items 1(b) and 2 also apply to buses;

(b)Part II applies to wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers which do not fall in Part I;

(c)Part III applies to wheeled locomotives; and

(d)Part IV applies to track-laying vehicles.

TABLE

(regulation 78(1))

PART I

(wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers which comply with the relevant braking requirement and wheeled agricultural motor vehicles, agricultural trailers and agricultural trailed appliances; and, in respect of items 1(b) and 2, buses)

1 23
ItemWheel criteria Maximum permitted weight
(kg)
1Two wheels in line transversely each of which is fitted with a wide tyre or with two pneumatic tyres having the centres of their areas of contact with the road not less than 300 mm apart, measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle—
(a) if the wheels are on the sole driving axle of a motor vehicle [F23not being a bus],10,500
(b) if the vehicle is a bus which has 2 axles and of which the weight transmitted to the road surface by its wheels is calculated in accordance with regulation 78(5), 10,500
(c) in any other case10,170
2Two wheels in line transversely otherwise than as mentioned in item 1 9,200
3More than two wheels in line transversely—
(a) in the case of a vehicle manufactured before 1st May 1983 [F24where] the wheels are on one axle of a group of F25... closely spaced axles F26...,10,170
(b) in the case of a vehicle manufactured on or after 1st May 1983, 10,170
(c) in any other case11,180
4One wheel not transversely in line with any other wheel—
(a) if the wheel is fitted as described in item 1,5,090
(b) in any other case4,600

PART II

(wheeled heavy motor cars, motor cars and trailers not failing in Part I)

123
ItemWheel criteriaMaximum permitted weight
(kg)
5More than two wheels transmitting weight to a strip of the road surface on which the vehicle rests contained between two parallel lines at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle—
(a) less than 1.02 m apart, 11,180
(b) 1.02 m or more apart but less than 1.22 m apart, 16,260
(c) 1.22 m or more apart but less than 2.13 m apart18,300
6Two wheels in line transversely9,200
7One wheel, where no other wheel is in the same line transversely.4,600

PART III

(wheeled locomotives)

123
ItemWheel criteriaMaximum permitted weight
(kg)
8Two wheels in line transversely (except in the case of a road roller, or a vehicle with not more than four wheels first used before 1st June 1955)11,180
9Any two wheels in the case of a wheeled locomotive having not more than four wheels first used before 1st June 1955 [F27, not being—
(a)

a road roller;

(b)

an agricultural motor vehicle (other than a category T tractor) which is driven at or below 20 mph; or

(c)

a category T tractor which is driven at or below 40 km/h.]

Three quarters of the total weight of the locomotive.

PART IV

(track-laying vehicles)

123
ItemWheel criteriaMaximum permitted weight
(kg)
10 The weight of a heavy motor car, motor car or trailer transmitted to any strip of the road surface on which the vehicle rests contained between two parallel lines 0.6 m apart at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 10,170
11Two wheels in line—
(a) heavy motor cars or motor cars with 2 wheels,8,130
(b) heavy motor cars or motor cars with more than 2 wheels7,630
12One wheel, where no other wheel is in the same line transversely, on a heavy motor car or a motor car4,070

(3) In the case of an articulated bus, or, subject to paragraph (4), of a bus first used before 1st April 1988, the laden weight, for the purposes of F28... regulation 75, and the weight transmitted to the road surface by wheels of the vehicle, for the purposes of items 1 and 2 of the Table in this regulation, shall be calculated with reference to the vehicle when it is complete and fully equipped for service with—

(a)a full supply of water, oil and fuel; and

(b)weights of 63.5 kg for each person (including crew)—

(i) for whom a seat is provided in the position in which he may be seated; and

(ii) who may by or under any enactment be carried standing, the total of such weights being reasonably distributed in the space in which such persons may be carried, save that in the case of a bus (not being an articulated bus) only the number of such persons exceeding 8 shall be taken into account.

(4) The weights for the purposes referred to in paragraph (3) may, in the case of a bus to which that paragraph applies, be calculated in accordance with paragraph (5) instead of paragraph (3).

(5) In the case of a bus first used on or after 1st April 1988, the weights for the purposes referred to in paragraph (3) shall be calculated with reference to the vehicle when it is complete and fully equipped for service with—

(a)a full supply of water, oil and fuel;

(b)a weight of 65 kg for each person (including crew)—

(i) for whom a seat is provided, in the position in which he may be seated; and

(ii) who may by or under any enactment be carried standing, the total of such weights being reasonably distributed in the space in which such persons may be so carried, save that in the case of a bus (not being an articulated bus) only the number of such persons exceeding 4 shall be taken into account;

(c)all luggage space within the vehicle but not within the passenger compartment loaded at the rate of 100 kg per m3 or 10 kg per person mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) above, whichever is the less; and

(d)any area of the roof of the vehicle constructed or adapted for the storage of luggage loaded with a uniformly distributed load at the rate of 75 kg per m2.

[F29(6) Regulation 75 shall not apply to a two axle bus if—

(a)its laden weight as calculated in accordance with paragraph (5) does not exceed 17,000kg; and

(b)the distance between the two axles is at least 3.0m.]

Maximum permitted weights for certain closely-spaced axles etcE+W+S

79.—(1) This regulation applies to—

(a)a wheeled motor vehicle which complies with the relevant braking requirement;

(b)a wheeled trailer which is drawn by such a motor vehicle; and

(c)an agricultural motor vehicle, an agricultural trailer and an agricultural trailed appliance.

[F30(2) Save as provided in paragraph (5), where a vehicle to which this regulation applies is of a description specified in an item in column 2 of Part V of Schedule 11 and has two closely-spaced axles, the total weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed the maximum permitted weight specified in column 3 of that item.

(3) Save as provided in paragraph (5), where a vehicle to which this regulation applies is of a description specified in an item in column 2 of Part VI of Schedule 11 and has three closely-spaced axles, the total weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed the weight specified in column 3.

(4) Save as provided by paragraph (5), where a vehicle is fitted with four or more closely-spaced axles, the weight transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of those axles shall not exceed 24,000kg.]

(5) Nothing in paragraphs (2), (3) or (4) of this regulation shall apply so as to prevent a vehicle first used before 1st June 1973 from being used on a road at a weight as respects those axles at which it could be used if it fell within item 5 in the Table in regulation 78 [F31and nothing in those paragraphs shall prevent a vehicle being used on a road if—

(a)a plating certificate in respect of the vehicle was in force immediately before the 1st January 1993; and

(b)no axle has an axle weight exceeding the weight shown in that certificate as being the weight not to be exceeded in Great Britain for that axle.]

[F32(6) In Parts V and VI of Schedule 11, “air-suspension” “road friendly suspension” and “twin tyres” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 75(4), (5) and (6).]

[F33Saving for the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998E+W+S

79A.  Nothing in regulations 75 to 79 shall be taken to prohibit the use of a vehicle in circumstances where the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle, for any vehicle combination of which the vehicle forms part and for any axle of the vehicle, as determined in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998, is not exceeded.]

Over-riding weight restrictionsE+W+S

80.—(1) Subject to [F34paragraphs (2), [F35(2B), (2C) and (4)]] , no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle—

(a)fitted with a plate in accordance with regulation 66, but for which no plating certificate has been issued, if any of the weights shown on the plate is [F36equalled or] exceeded;

(b)for which a plating certificate has been issued, if any of the weights shown in column (2) of the plating certificate is [F36equalled or] exceeded; or

(c)required by regulation 68 to be fitted with a plate, if the maximum gross weight referred to in paragraph (2)(c) of that regulation is [F36equalled or] exceeded.

(2) Where any two or more axles are fitted with a compensating arrangement in accordance with regulation 23 the sum of the weights shown for them in the plating certificate shall not be [F37equalled or] exceeded. In a case where a plating certificate has not been issued the sum of the weights referred to shall be that shown for the said axles in the plate fitted in accordance with regulation 66.

[F38(2A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a vehicle for which a plating certificate has been issued in the form set out in Schedule 10A or 10C where—

(a)the vehicle is being used for international transport; and

(b)none of the weights shown in column (3) of the plating certificate is [F39equalled or] exceeded.

(2B) Where both a train weight and a maximum train weight are shown in column (2) of a plating certificate issued for a motor vehicle, paragraph (1)(b) in so far as it relates to train weights shall not apply to the motor vehicle if—

(a)the motor vehicle is a wheeled heavy motor car drawing a wheeled trailer and the requirements set out in Part II of Schedule 11A are for the time being fulfilled; or

(b)the motor vehicle is comprised in an articulated vehicle and the requirements set out in Part III of Schedule 11A are for the time being fulfilled,

and the train weight of the motor vehicle does not [F40equal or] exceed the maximum train weight shown in column (2) of the certificate.]

(3) Nothing in regulations 75 to 79 [F41or in the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998] shall permit any such weight as is mentioned in the preceding provisions of this regulation to be [F42equalled or] exceeded and nothing in this regulation shall permit any weight prescribed by regulations 75 to 79 [F41or in the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998] in relation to the vehicle in question to be [F42equalled or] exceeded.

[F43(4) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where a vehicle is used on a road before 1st January 2000 if–

(a)the vehicle is fitted with a plate in accordance with regulation 66(1)(b) and the maximum gross weight and the maximum weight for any axle of the vehicle are not exceeded; or

(b)there is in force a plating certificate for the vehicle that was issued before 1st January 1999 and the design weight of the vehicle is not exceeded; and

(c)in either case the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle, maximum authorised weight for a combination of which the vehicle forms part and maximum authorised weight for any axle of the vehicle, determined in accordance with the Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998, are not exceeded.]

Textual Amendments

Commencement Information

I6Reg. 80 in force at 11.8.1986, see reg. 1

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