Loads loophole blocked
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• New regulations laid before Parliament on Monday by Mr. Fred Mulley, Minister of Transport, are likely to close a loophole in the present regulations governing the maximum loads which may be legally carried on goods vehicles.
These regulations will make it illegal. from February 1, 1970, to use a vehicle which has not been plated and tested by the Ministry if its gross or wile weights are greater than the design weights shown on the manufacturers' plates which have to befitted to goods vehicles first used after January 1, 1968. In cases where the design weights are greater than those applicable to that vehicle under the general provisions of the Construction and Use Regulations, the latter weights will constitute the legal limits for operation in Great Britain.
Where a vehicle has been plated by the Ministry the effective weights, for enforcement purposes, will be those shown on the Ministry plate and not those shown on the manufacturer's plate.
A consequential amendment has been made to the Special Types General Order.
Two minor amendments are also made to the present regulations. From April 1, 1970. manufacturers will have to show the year of manufacture on the plate which they fix on trailers and semi-trailers; and for the purpose of the regulations the manufacturer of a trailer, which is built in separate stages by a chassis builder and a different body builder, is deemed to be the chassis builder.