Q My fitter is able to claim as of right an
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hgv Class 3 licence restricted to 10 tonnes. If he obtains this licence will he be able to drive an artic tractive unit which might be plated over 10 tonnes gross (when matched with a trailer) if the unit is not drawing a trailer? Obviously, a solo tractive unit with only four wheels may be driven on normal Class 3 hgv licence when it is not drawing a trai/er but does the plating exclude it being driven under the restricted Class 3 licence?
A The plated weight of an artic tractive 'unit refers to its use with •a trailer and presumably has no reference to its maximum gross weight for the purposes of the new Class 3 driving licence. The Department of the Environment has told us that this is a case for the use of a multiplier as set out in the Goods Vehicles (Ascertainment of Maximum Gross Weights) Regulations 1976 SI555.
Schedule 1 of these Regulations sets out multipliers by which the unladen weight of a vehicle may be multiplied to arrive at an unladen weight for driving licence purposes when a manufacturers' design weight or a plated gross weight is not available.
Paragraphs 13 and 14 of this schedule •are applicable in your case. Under paragraph 13 the unladen weight of cars or heavy cars first used before January 1, 1968 are multipliable by 2 and under paragraph 14, any other motor vehicle must have the unladen weight multiplied by 4.
In that case, any artic tractive unit with an unladen weight exceeding 2.46 tons cannot be driven under the restricted Class 3 licence.