PRIVATE MILEAGE
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QAs an owner-driver, if I use my unit for business up to my hours limit, can I then drop the semitrailer and continue driving after inserting a tacho card marked "private mileage"? JD, Grantham Avery grey area. If a vehicle is not being used commercially to carry goods it does not require to comply with Goods Vehicle legislation.
However, in your case it depends solely on the degree to which the unit is being used. The whole question revolves around three principles — road safety, social conditions and fair competition.
If a tractor unit is being driven from the operating centre to home, it is not exempt from requirements. lithe vehicle is used privately, it will be necessary to show the "missing" mileage and it would be useful, although not essential, to have a tacho showing private mileage.
You cannot simply drop a trailer and then drive back to your base saying that you are now a private motorist; this would provide you with an unfair advantage over your competitors.