Replating rigids the facts
Page 6
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• The Department of Transport has issued guidelines on vehicle plating for operators wishing to take advantage of the forthcoming new rigid weights, which allow 17 tonnes on two axles from April 1 1988.
For existing trucks which are affected by the change, the higher permitted weights will only be applicable where a new ministry plate and certificate have been issued showing the new weights in the 'permitted weights' column.
To obtain the new ministry plate for each vehicle hauliers should send a VTG 10 form to the Goods Vehicle Centre, Welcombe House, The Strand, Swansea, along with a fee for 29.50 per vehicle.
Applications for the changeover on 1 April next year are now being processed by Swansea, but the new documents will not be issued until the end of March next year.
The DTp says that if no changes have been made to the vehicle (apart from tyre size changes) for 17-tonne operation, a large letter X should be placed on the bottom righthand-corner of the first page of the VTG 10 form.
Operators wishing to avoid a separate examination for uprating purposes may wait until the annual test, and apply for uprating in the manner described above.
If such an annual test is after 1 April 1988, however, operators should note that it will not be possible to take advantage of the new higher limits until the new plate is issued.