LEGAL.
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EU plans standard dimension limits
Commercial Motor (30 June-6 July) reported that the Department of Transport proposed to clamp down on oversized containers and swap bodies which continental hauliers might try to operate in the UK.
The rules governing the maximum dimensions allowed for commercial vehicles are contained in EC Regulations which were adopted in Construction and Use 1990. These limit articulated vehicles to 16.5m (subject to exceptions for car transporters, drawbar combinations and low loaders); and semi-trailers to 14.04m.
These lengths are subject to the conditions that the distance between the axis of the king pin and the rear of the semi-trailer does not exceed 12m, and that the front of the semi-trailer is no more than 2.04m beyond it. Historically, domestic legislation drew a distinction between the vehicle and the container which it was carrying. But current legislation demands that the overall length of the vehicle should take account of "attachment".
The question of what is an "attachment" was considered by the UK Court of Appeal in 1983. It has now become clear that containers and swap bodies come within the Court's definition.
The general rules are subject to an exception which exclude empty containers—the only exceptions which apply in the EU relate to transportation of larger containers near the ports. However, proposed EC legislation shows a hardening of attitudes. It now seems that the EU is determined to unify the system and prohibit domestic anomalies.