Q During the course of my duties as a
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driver of a Foden articulated low-loader I am often called upon to transport wide loads. These loads are between 9ft. 3in. and 10ft. 6in. wide. Although 1 have assistance with loading and unloading these machines I am, on most of my journeys, unaccompanied.
have recently heard it said that I am required by law to be accompanied with such loads. Would you kindly clarify the following two points for me: (a) Is there any law which states that I must be accompanied on my journeys, with wide loads, and if so with how many assistants?
(b) From what width does this apply, if the answer to (a) is yes?
AThe regulations on the carriage of wide
loads are rather complicated mainly because it is a question of whether the vehicle is operating under the Construction and Use Regulations or the Special Types Order.
However, to summarise: If your vehicle operates under the C and U Regulations. i.e. it does not exceed 8ft. 2-fin. in width and complies with the maximum length and weight requirements, also the braking standards. plating regulations and other requirements. then: you may carry any load up to 9ft. 6in. in width (it must not project more then 1ft on either side of the vehicle) without an attendant. You may also carry an indivisible load up to 14ft. in width but one attendant must be carried and two days' notice given to the police of every district through which you intend to pass. If your vehicle does not comply with the C and U Regulations (if it is more than 8ft. 2-1-in. wide it certainly does not) then it must operate under the Special Types Order, in which case if you carry a load of up to 9ft. 6in. in width one attendant is needed (although as we have already said, an attendant is not needed on C and U approved vehicles with loads up to this width).
If a load of more than 9ft. 6in. is carried on a Special Types vehicle then two attendants must be carried and two days' notice given to the police.
From your question it is not clear in which category your vehicle falls and we suggest you try to find out. If it has been plated and tested under the MoT goods vehicle testing scheme then it is a C and U type vehicle. If it is exempt from the test, then it is a Special Types vehicle. This is the easiest way of checking.
In any case, it would appear that when you carry 10ft. 6in. loads without an attendant you are breaking the law.
ciAre we required to make use of an "A" bracket when a vehicle is given a suspended tow, or can the vehicle be towed just suspended on the crane?
AWe cannot find anything in regulations
which stipulates that an "A" frame must be used when carrying out a suspended tow. However, we believe that, from a safety angle, it would be unwise to allow a suspended vehicle to swing on the chain or wire rope. It would be wise to lash the suspended vehicle close up to the towing vehicle with a tyre or some other fender between, or to use a short, rigid towbar if possible. You should remember that while you may not be breaking specific regulations in towing on a crane only, you could be open to prosecution for operating a vehicle in an unsafe or dangerous condition likely to cause danger to persons on the vehicle or to other road users.