Q We are now in the market for an additional outfit
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and had intended to purchase a 45-ton single rear axle Foden tractive unit with a trailer to give a gross train weight of 32 tons complying in width and length with Construction and Use Regulations but also with the use of outriggers to carry individual loads such as our 30 RR which weighs around 35 tons, but it does seem that we either have to run it wholly within the Construction and Use Regulations or entirely outside them — in the latter case this means an additional man in the cab and 48 hours' notice to the policy.
Could you say whether one can in fact run a plated vehicle as a special types?
A The problem which you have posed
has been put to the Department of the Environment and the short answer is that they see no reason why you should not operate a "hybrid" vehicle which conforms to the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1973 in one configuration but not in another. In that case, they say, it is possible to operate within the C & U Regulations when the outriggers are not in position and under Regulation 20(a) of the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1973 when they are in use.
However, it is stressed that you should have regard to Regulation 90 and to observing the design weight of the vehicle. The Foden model you refer to has a 15-ton rear axle which can be used to that weight under special types but this will still be insufficient to cope with a 35-ton payload. A 6 X 4 tractive unit with a higher kingpin loading would be necessary.