What licence is required to drive a tractive unit? If
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it is classed as a heavy goods vehicle, why is there no rear marker plate.? If ills classed as a private car what regulations are there on Motorway driving?
A The licensing of heavy goods vehicles drivers is governed by Part IV of the Road Traffic Act 1972. This says that the driver of a heavy goods vehicle must be licensed to drive a heavy goods vehicle of the appropriate class. A heavy goods vehicle is defined in Section 124 and among the vehicles included are heavy motor cars and motor cars so constructed that a trailer may by partial superimposition be attached in such a manner as to cause a substantial part of the weight of the trailer to be borne thereby. This, in fact, describes an artic tractive unit.
However, motor cars so constructed but not drawing trailers are exempted under Regulation 28(K) of the Heavy Goods Vehicles (Drivers Licences) Regulations 1969. You should understand that a heavy motor car is a vehicle exceeding 3 tons unladen and a motor car is a vehicle with an unladen weight up to 3 tons.
On the assumption that you have in mind a heavy motor car (over 3 tons unladen) than a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence is required to drive this even if no trailer is attached. Section 190(9) of the 1972 Act states that, in effect, an artic tractive unit should be treated on its own as a vehicle itself constructed to carry a load. That means that it is considered in the same way as a rigid vehicle. In that case, a heavy goods vehicle licence appropriate to the number of wheels in contact with the road surface is necessary to drive it. That is, if it has two axles, ie four wheels, then a Class 3 Licence is needed; if it has more than two axles then a Class 2 is appropriate.
It is exempt from carrying reflective rear markers by Regulation 2(f) of the Motor Vehicle (Rear Markings) Regulations 1970.
It is not classed as a private car and Motorway Regulations apply as to any commercial freight vehicle.