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a good idea for hauliers to step back now and again, and take a cool look at relevant issues in depth. Thanks to our colleagues at Tolley Publishing, we do just that every month with this bulletin. We feel the title says it all... • Abnormal indivisible loads are loads which cannot, without undue expense or risk of damage, be divided into two or more loads for carriage by road and which cannot be carried on a vehicle operating within the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986.
Legal provisions for the carriage of abnormal loads are specified in the Motor Vehicles (Special Types) General Order 1979 (STGO), as amended—hence the term "Special Types" vehicles.
Normally only one abnormal load may be carried on a vehicle at one time. However, two abnormal loads of the same "character" (eg items of engineering plant) may be carried on Category r or Category 2 vehicles (defined below), provided all parts of the load are from the same place and are destined for the same delivery address and do not cause the overall dimensions of the vehicle or main load to be exceeded.
Special Types vehicles and their loads may be up to 2.9m wide, but for safe carriage of large loads this can be extended to a maximum of 6.rm. When the overall width of a vehicle and its load exceeds 5.om prior approval must be obtained from the Transport Secretary and a copy of the movement order (form VIZI) must be carried on the vehicle during the journey.
The overall length of a vehicle and its load must not exceed 27.4m unless the load is carried on a combination of vehicles and trailers, or on a long attic, when the 27.4m limit excludes the drawing vehicle.
Weight categories • Category t vehicles normally fall within C&U permissible maximum weights, axle spacings and axle weights, but may operate at up to 46 tonnes.
• Category 2 vehicles with at least five axles may operate up to 8o tonnes as long as no more than 50 tonnes is imposed on any group of axles.
• Category 3 vehicles with at least six axles may operate up to 150 tonnes with a limit of Too tonnes on any group of axles, or 90 tonnes on any group of axles where adjacent axles are less than 1.35m apart. In all cases vehicles must meet specified minimum axle spacing requirements.
Plates and escorts Identification plates must be displayed on the front of Special Types vehicles with the letters STGO in white on a black background showing; the sign must also show the vehicle category.
Since October 1988 every Category 2 and 3 vehicle has been required to display a Special Types Use plate in a conspicuous and easily accessible position showing the manufacturer's recommended maximum gross vehicle weight, gross train weight and individual axle weights when travelling on the road at speeds between i2mph and 4omph.
Attendants must be carried on Special Types vehicles; • When the vehicle or load is more than 3.5m wide or more than 18.3m long (excluding the length of the tractive unit in the case of an artic); • If the length of a vehicle and trailer exceeds 25.9m;
III If the load projects more than 1.83m beyond the front or more than 3.o5m beyond the rear of the vehicle.
If three or more vehicles requiring attendants travel in convoy, attendants are needed only on the first and last vehicles.
Notification of Highway and Bridge Authorities If a Special Types vehicle and its load weigh more than 8o tonnes, or if the weight imposed by the wheels exceeds the C&U limit, five clear days' notice must be given to each Highway and Bridge Authority through whose area it is to pass. This notice period falls to two days when only the C&U axle-weight limit is exceeded. The operator must indemnify the authorities against road or bridge damage.
Special Types All abnormal load movements over rail bridges must be notified to Railtrack; when high loads are to be moved operators must also contact the relevant electricity companies. Other notifications