Exempted trailers
Page 40
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We operate several pickup trucks plated for 3.5 tonnes which are sometimes used to draw a trailer carrying construction equipment.
The trailer weighs approximately 600kg unladen.
Police stopped the driver and told him the pickup and trailer should have been authorised on an Operator's Licence.
We have now got a summons to appear in court.
We have always believed that trailers under one tonne unladen were excluded from 0-licensing.
Has there been a change in the law?
A No. On the information given, the police are wrong.
Section 60(2)(a) of the Transport Act 1968 states that an Operator's Licence is not required for a small goods vehicle.
A small goods vehicle is defined in Section 60(4), where paragraph (b) states that (except for artics) if a vehicle draws a trailer (except a small trailer), and both motor vehicle and trailer have relevant plated weights, the combination is a small goods vehicle if the total of those weights does not exceed 3,500kg.
But Section 60(4) goes on to provide that a small trailer — referred to in sub-paragraph (b) above — is one with an unladen weight not over 1,020kg unladen.
As the trailer being drawn was only 600kg unladen it is a small trailer and therefore disregarded for the purpose of Section 60(4Xb).
Consequently, only the plated weight of the pickup truck dictates whether the combination was a small goods vehicle or not. Because it is plated for 3,500kg gross weight, the outfit is a small goods vehicle and within the exemption.