We are timber importers and have a Morris and nine
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trailers and employ a second man who is responsible for the cable brake connected to the trailer. We have been told that under the new braking regulations all our dock transport will be obsolete. If so what must we do to conform to these new regulations?
AThis raises a difficult question and con
sultation with the Ministry of Transport and other informed authorities has led to the following conclusion as to the possible interpretation of the regulations in this case.
Assuming that you are referring to the operation of a tractor coupled to drawbar trailers, the main conclusion is that as far as the system used for braking on your tractor/ trailer combination is concerned, this should be within the law which becomes effective on January 1 1968. But it is important to realise that when fully laden specified braking efficiencies will have to be met.
We would consider that application of the tractor brakes by the driver and the trailer brakes by the mate simultaneously could be taken as the main "means of application" for which the required efficiency will be 45 per cent. If the tractor handbrake can stop the whole combination with an efficiency of 20 per cent then this would meet the requirement for a "second means of application".
We doubt whether the handbrake on your Morris would give 20 per cent efficiency for the tractor and trailer when loaded, although this would depend on the degree of loading. But it is possible that if the tractor brake only will stop the combination at 45 per cent and the trailer brake only at 20 per cent you will meet the two requirements this way. But we again contend that this would not be the case.
We emphasize, however, that these comments represent only our interpretation of the latest C and U Regulation because even the Ministry will not give specific information as to interpretation.
You will be well advised to contact local experts to inspect your vehicle so as to provide an individual assessment. If you could meet the main and secondary braking requirements when the vehicle is fully laden in the manner we have set out you would not need to carry Out any modification work.
But we would be surprised if, in practice, your vehicles were able to meet the required figures of efficiency. If they could not, then some revision to the brake system would be needed.
As you are situated in the Liverpool area we suggest you contact your local trailer manufacturer, 11.A. Dyson Ltd., Grafton Street, Liverpool 8. who should be able to advise you in this matter.