Are you ready for plating day, October 1?

20th September 1968, Page 86

20th September 1968

Page 86

Page 86, 20th September 1968 — Are you ready for plating day, October 1?

Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

• Some 30,000 goods vehicles in England and Wales, which have an unladen weight of 3 tons and over and which were registered before January 1 1958, must be plated and tested at Ministry of Transport Goods Vehicle Testing Stations during October and November.

The Ministry's plating and testing scheme begins on October 1 and all vehicles which fall into this first class roust be plated and tested before November 30.

Operators with vehicles in this class will be committing offences if they allow them to be used on the road after November 30 without (a) a Ministry plate and plating certificate and (b) a Goods Vehicle Test Certificate. Fines not exceeding £50 may be imposed.

Affected operators must apply now for appointments at the Ministry's Goods Vehicle Testing Stations. Application forms (VTG 1 (motor vehicles) and VTG 2 (trailers)) can be obtained from any Money Order Post Office or by post from the Ministry's Goods Vehicle Centre, 91/92, The Strand, Swansea.

All applications must be sent to the MoT Goods Vehicle Centre at Swansea at least one month before the test is required.

Early application is advised. If an operator applies for a test after October 31 he may find that the earliest appointment he can be given will be after November 30. In this case an operator, even though he has submitted an application, will still be committing an offence if he allows a vehicle to be used on the road after November 30, other than for taking it to one of the Testing Stations.

From November 1 until the end of January some 50,000 goods vehicles between 30cwt and 3 tons and registered before January 1,

1958 will have to be tested. If an operator whose vehicle falls within the first class has

failed to apply for a test before October 31, he will then have to take his turn with the operators of the 50,000 vehicles in the second class.

Between January 1 1969 and March 31 1970 all other goods vehicles throughout Britain registered or manufactured before January 1 1968 which are over 30cwt unladen, and all articulated vehicles and draw bar 'trailers over 1 ton unladen weight, will have to be tested. This will be done in classes. The Ministry's Guide for Vehicle Operators IVTG 20) is available free of charge on re quest by post to the Goods Vehicle Centre, Swansea, or on personal application to the Ministry's Traffic Area Offices, Goods Vehicle Testing Stations and at the offices of the Road Haulage Association and the Traders Road Transport Association.

* Gully and cesspool emptiers, dustcarts and similar utility vehicles are exempt from the Testing and Plating regulations if operated by a local authority. The TRTA is asking the MoT if the same exemption can be extended to non-municipally owned vehicles of this kind. The Association is also seeking an extension of voluntary testing after October 1, as and when the MoT Stations have time to spare from compulsory tests.