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Page 80
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Hgv licences
The beginning of February also saw the introduction (or, strictly speaking, the revival) of heavy goods vehicle driving licences. Under the Road Safety Act 1967 and the Vehicle and Driving Licences Act 1969, the Minister made the Heavy Goods Vehicles (Drivers' Licences) Regulations 1969 (HMSO 2s.). This legislation made it necessary from February 1 for drivers of rigid goods vehicles exceeding 3 tons unladen weight, and almost all articulated vehicles, to hold a heavy goods vehicle driving licence at the first renewal of their current driving licence after this date. There are eight classes of licence and only those drivers holding a Class 1 licence are permitted to drive vehicles in all other categories.
The hgv driving licence places a restriction on the use of drivers which seems not to have occurred to some operators yet. No longer will the traffic office be able to pick a man at random to move a goods vehicle even a few hundred yards on a public road; and local shunters will need the same class of licence as the elite trunkers when they take the wheel of an attic. This situation will develop steadily between now and February 1973 as driving licences fall due for renewal and more and more hgv licences become applicable.
A licence can be obtained in two ways; by taking a test at one of the many MoT centres around the country (application form DLG 1 is obtainable from main Post Offices) or by claiming test exemption on the score of experience. The only experience which counts is that obtained on the relevant class of vehicle for which a licence is sought: an employer (or owner-driver) must set out on form DLG 1B, which is part of the main applicators form, details of the qualifying driving experience. It is necessary to show that the driver has been "in the habitof driving such a vehicle or vehicles for six months in aggregate during the period February 2 1969 to February 1 1970. This is the only period during which qualification will count towards exemption from a test: it is not, as some think, any six months prior to the application.
The MoT has issued two free booklets, The Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers Licence (DLG 100) and the Heavy Goods Vehicle Driving Test, obtainable from MoT traffic area offfices (but DLG 100 can also be obtained from main Post Offices). CM has also prepared a guide (see end of article).
All applicants for an hgv licence must undergo a medical examination, and the licence application form includes an obligatory medical certificate, form DLG la. The cost of the hgv medical varies between doctors but generally is about £4, the test fee is £6 and the licence itself £1.
Noise and plating
April 1 was notable for several items of legislation taking effect, It was the date on which, under Regulation 23 of the C. and U. Regulations, goods and passenger vehicles in use had to meet a maximum noise level of 89 decibels (t1BAl; the date on which the plating and testing of 1968 and 1969 goods vehicles began; and the date from which a current MoT test certificate or a certificate of temporary exemption had to be produced when retaxing goods vehicles first registered before January 1 1968 or manufactured before that date, but not registered beforeJanuary 11969. The relevant legislation for the latter is the Goods Vehicles (Production of Test Certificates) Regulations 1969 (HMSO 9d.).
The extension of plating to the newer vehicles is, of course, another stage in the plating arid testing programme first outlined in the Road Safety Act 1967 and later given substance in the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1968 (HMSO 3s, 9d.). These regulations made it necessary for goods vehicles and trailers (vehicles over 30cwt), unladen, all tractive units, and goods-carrying drawbar trailers over 1 ton unladen, except a number of exempted categories) to attend a MoT test station to be allocated maximum legal gross and axle weights. The Standard Lists obtainable from HMSO, and subsequent supplementary lists, showed the weights at which most vehicles had to be plated.
When vehicles attend for first plating they are also tested for roadworthiness to standards which are detailed in the regulations; an invaluable guide to these standards is The Goods Vehicle Tester's Manual (HMSO 6s, 6d.). The plating and testing scheme itself was set out in a free booklet, Plating and Testing of Goods Vehicles; Guide for Vehicle Operators (VTG20) available free from MoT offices and test stations and from the R HA and TRTA.
Once plated, a vehicle is thereafter due for annual testing, and April 1 was the date on which this periodical testing programme began. Goods vehicles have to be retested not later than the end of the month which is the anniversary of their first registration but there is a provision which enables vehicles to be sent voluntarily for re-test earlier than this (section 31 of the 1968 plating and testing regulations).
The month for retesting trailers is shown by the last two figures of the identity number allocated by the MoT Goods Vehicle Centre before the first examination. For instance, trailer identity numbers ending in 07 indicate a retest in July: 01 indicates, by this token, January.
There have been numerous amendments to the regulations on this subject, the first in 1968 (SI No. 1169), the second in 1968 (SI 1854), the third in 1969 (51 322) and, again in 1969 (Si 1324). The details required on the actual plates are laid down in the Second Schedule to the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1969.
There has been some concern expressed by operators at the bunching of trailers for re-test as a result of bulk purchase and delivery, but this point has been accepted by the Ministry and in January there took effect the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 1969, giving the Minister powers to issue certificates altering the dates on which semi-trailers are required to be re-tested.
Hours and records
One of the biggest changes in transport law this year has been the introduction of a new system of maximum driving hours and record keeping. This came into force on March 1—though accompanied by a Ministry assurance that it would not be rigidly enforced for the first three months. That three months is now up.
The Transport Act 1966' (Part VI) lays down the basis of the new system, which is implemented by a Commencement Order and by the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Keeping of Records) Regulations 1970 (HMSO 1s. 9d.).
As well as changes in the maximum permitted hours, now set at 10 hours' driving, 11 hours on duty and 124; maximum spreadover a day, the new regulations set a weekly maximum of 60 hours on duty (and six days) a week. They also alter the familiar definitions, so that driving time is now identified as the time spent at the driving controls of the vehicle for the purpose of controlling its movement, whether it is in motion or is stationary with the engine running.
Coincident with the new hours, the new system of journey record keeping requires records to be kept in books of daily or weekly record sheets, serially numbered and produced in duplicate. The employer now has to keep a record of the books issued to each driver.
Since breaches of the hours regulations can be a basis of objection to renewal of an operator's licence, great care should be taken to see that records of any such incident are retained for use as possible evidence. That is to say, for example, if a driver breaks the hours limits intentionally, or if he is directed to do so by a traffic clerk, then the consequent letters of reprimand should be attached to the record sheet.
Many exemptions and concessions to the hours and records laws have been permitted. In the main, these are covered in the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Exemptions) Regulations 1970 (HMSO 1s. 3cf,), the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Exemptions) (Amendment) Regulations 1970 (HMSO 9d.), the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Modifications) Order 1970 (HMSO 9d.), and in more widespread amending regulations affecting only passenger vehicle drivers.
The general scheme (though not all the latest amendments) is set out in a free Ministry of Transport booklet called Memorandum 612: Goods Vehicle Drivers' Hours and Records. A simple explanation of this new legislation is contained in CM's Guide to Drivers' Hours and Record-Keeping, listed below.
Latest addition to the list of 1970 legislation is the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1970, which makes it unnecessary from June 15 for a second man to be carried on vehicles hauling drawbar trailers fitted with power brakes.
This by no means exhausts the list of legislation presently surrounding transport operators. For example, no operator should be without the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 7969 (HMSO 9s. 6d.), and the Road Traffic Act 1960 (HMSO 19s. 6d.). Also, there is more legislation on the way, such as the detailed requirements concerning reflectors as set out in the Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations.
Many of the current and forthcoming items of legislation have, as readers will know, been explained in detail in CM's weekly "Know the Law" series while both the Road Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association have issued guides to recent legislation. CM has published reprints of several of its published legislation guides, and three which are still available are:
CM's Guide to Drivers' Hours and Record-Keeping, price 2s. 6d. including postage, or Cl for 10 copies, Or 25 per cent discount on basic price for 50 copies or more.
The Hgv Driver's Licence, price 2s. 6d. or 25s, a dozen copies.
Guide to Maximum Legal Weights and Dimensions. A wall chart with diagrams. Price 2s. 6d., or £1 for 10.
These three publications are available from the Sundry Sales Department, IPC Business Press (S. and D.) Ltd, which from July 4 will be located at 40 Bowling Green Lane, London EC1.