'Legislation for licensing, taxation and annual testing is vital'
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The new breed of super tractor, such as the JCB Fastrac, is possibly the best thing since sliced bread for farmers and agricultural contractors, but for the road haulier it has made a mockery of all LGV legislation.
These fast tractors are capable of speeds of more than 0mph and some can move a payload of up to 12 tonnes.
For a road haulier to move the same payload at the same speed he would have to employ a six-wheeled rigid at least. The truck driver would have to take an LGV test, be over 21 and abide by tacho and drivers' hours regulations—restrictions that do not apply to the Fastrac driver. He could be ploughing all night and on the road all day and no one could stop him.
I have spoken to the police about this and they are concerned. Then there is the question of fuel—bona fide hauliers cannot use red diesel—and road tax, which for a truck is around 10 times more than a farm tractor. Trucks must also undergo an annual test which does not apply in the same way to a tractor.
If farm vehicles are allowed to carry on with no legislation for driver or operator it's not surprising that so many road hauliers get the hump when they are heavily penalised for breaking one of the many laws they must abide by. New legislation for fast tractors is desperately needed, not only to help a struggling road haulage industry, but to make roads in the countryside safer. Any vehicle used on the roads with high top speeds at heavy GVWs should be governed by the same legislation as the road haulage industry. IF not, we hauliers are being made fools of yet again. There have been a number of roll-over accidents with farm tractors caused by inexperienced drivers handling heavy loads at high speed and this alone is ridiculous. Legislation for licensing, taxation and annual testing is vital . Without it, the livelihood of many professional hauliers and their drivers is at stake.