Q Must the unladen weight be painted on the side of
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a used truck weighing over three tons unladen even though it is operated on general trade plates?
ARegulation 64 of the Motor Vehicles
(Construction and Use) Regulations 1966, No. 1288 applies. This reads; "The owner of a locomotive, motor tractor or heavy motor car shall cause the unladen weight of the vehicle to be painted or otherwise plainly marked upon some conspicuous place on the left or near side of the vehicle: Provided that this Regulation shall not apply to a heavy motor car not registered under the Roads Act 1920, the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1949 or the Vehicles (Excise) Act 1962."
In this particular case it would appear that the truck in question, by virtue of it being a used truck, had previously been registered but as it was no longer licensed, general trade plates had to be used for the journey in question. If this assumption is correct then the exemption provided in Regulation 64 to a "heavy motor car", i.e. a truck over 3 tons unladen, not registered does not apply in this case and accordingly the unladen weight would need to be displayed as prescribed.