My business consists largely of cutting trees in woods and
Page 71
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
forests and I am considering using an agricultural tractor and trailer for this work. Would it be legal for me to move on the public highway wood cut to pulp length? Also what regulations apply to the braking of such an outfit. i.e. twoand four-wheeled trailers?
AMuch would depend on the precise
nature of your work. The agricultural tractor could be licensed for £3 15s for hauling, within 15 miles of a farm, woodland produce of that farm or land occupied with that farm.
Similarly the tractor could be so licensed and used for hauling, within 15 miles of a forestry estate occupied by the licensee, woodland produce of that estate, or for hauling articles required for such a forestry estate by the occupier.
However, where the range of haulage activities becomes wider it could be contended that the work is basically one of haulage, in which case the vehicle would not only have to pay the appropriate excise duty at goods vehicle rate but it would also need a carrier's licence.
Regarding braking regulations there has been no change in the requirements for your tractor and trailer and no specific brake efficiency figures will have to be met.
In the Motor vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1966, No. 1288, regula-. tion 39 dealing with brakes on tractors (including agricultural tractors) lays down that there shall -be available for application by the driver to not less than half the number of wheels of the vehicle, brakes sufficient under the most adverse conditions to bring the vehicle to rest within a reasonable distance".
Regulation 60 (1) applies as regards the trailer and states that if it is more than 2cwt unladen it must have an efficient brake system capable of being applied, when it is being drawn, to at least two wheels if there are no more than four and at least four wheels if there are more than four. The brakes can be applied by the driver of the tractor or by any other person on the tractor or the trailer, or an overrun type of brake can be employed. This refers to every agricultural trailer whenever built. But there is one additional proviso that if it was built before July 1 1947 no brakes are needed if the total unladen weight does not exceed four tons, if it is the only trailer drawn and if the speed does not exceed 10 mph.