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Farmers reap un sat Budget crop
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• Farmers are taking away work from hauliers following Budget changes which appear to sweep away all haulage and carriage restrictions on agricultural machines. Farmers do not have to get an 0-licence before they take on haulage work, says the DVLC. The Department of Transport and the Agricultural Engineers Association have confirmed that the Budget removed haulage restrictions on special tax classes (agricultural tractors, digging machines, works trucks, and the like) and carriage restriction on tractors. The changes were prompted because of anomalies in the law relating to red diesel
A north-western haulier has contacted Commercial Motor with information about a farmer hauling spoil for the North West Water Authority using overloaded agricultural trailers without lights. Because there is no 0-licence requirement, the farmer is not legally bound to follow established haulage
practices. "This kind of business has been going on since the advent of big, powerful agricultural tractors," says the Road Haulage Association. "We have received many complaints in the past, especially from the West Country, and have reported to the Licensing Authority. The point is that by liberalising further, you are in danger of encouraging illegal operation," Jim Reid, director-general of the United Kingdom Agricultural Supply Trade Association, says he has not heard of farmers taking advantage of the new rules, but admits "they would be unlikely to tell us if they were. Certainly, several people at Tipcon were talking about this issue. People are becoming aware of it."
UKASTA agrees that there is "a certain element of abuse and always has been". However, phasing out of VED concessions for farmers' goods vehicles should eventually beat the problem, it says.
With no need for an 0licence, strict road haulage industry rules on roadworthiness, vehicle plating,
overloading, driver's hours and do not apply to potential farmer-hauliers. The farmer needs only an agricultural HGV driving licence to drive vehicles on the road above 7.5 tonnes.
The Budget changes were designed to remove anomalies over special machines. For example, farmers could cut hedges for local authorities using un-taxed red diesel but had to use taxed white diesel to trim verges. This has sensibly been changed but the way has been left open for abuse.
Paul Tane, transport adviser at the National Farmers Union, says farmers often undertake spoil and sewage transportation as hauliers are not interested in the work.
lane says he is "doubtful that farmers will be allowed to undertake hire and reward work. The restrictions have been lifted but I would guess extra legislation will be brought in if a loophole is exposed."