Regulations for wheeled containers
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IN view of the doubt which appears to exist 1in some quarters regarding the exact application of the Construction and Use Regulations to wheeled containers, the RHA recently took the opportunid of clarifying the matter with the Ministry of Transport. The problem is particularly topical in the light of the anticipated development of transatlantic container traffic.
It is reported that the Ministry, whilst stressing that it cannot interpret the law, has pointed out that a wheeled container is a trailer under the terms of the Road Traffic Acts. It also constitutes, with its towing vehicle, an articulated vehicle as defined in Regulations 3 (I) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, provided that 20 per cent of the load weight is borne by the towing vehicle.
The Ministry has also emphasized that the use on public roads of such an articulated vehicle would be legal only if all the appropriate requirements of the Regulations, including the overall length limit of 13 metres, in respect of articulated vehicles and trailers, were complied with.