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Heavy load rule change
Page 12
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• A minor change to abnormal load regulations could speed up the long-awaited introduction of private escorts for heavy transport operators.
The sector wants to reduce its dependence on police escorts because of a perception that they often fail to arrive on time; also, they have to be changed each time a load enters a new police force area.
A revision to the Special Types General Order (STGO) regulations, which cover abnormal loads, is due to be published by the Department of Transport this month. One amendment will end the requirement for attendants to sit alongside drivers delivering heavy loads; instead they will be allowed to follow them in a car.
Tony Lovell, managing director of Convoi Exceptionnel in Southhampton, says the introduction of private escorts is impossible without this change: "This has to be in place before you could even consider private escorts. Without it, there would be no legality in the system to allow it to happen."
Lovell, whose fleet of six escort cars is mainly hired by foreign operators, says the
rules governing attendants are unclear, causing considerable irritation: 'We have had a situation so many times where a new constable has told the driver that the attendant has to sit itt the cab. It would end up with me making phone calls all round to clear the situation up."
Dave Collett, chairman of the Heavy Transport Association, says another benefit of the change will be to allow attendants to go straight to another job once a heavy load is delivered, rather than having to return with the driver to the starting point.