Trailer LAW

Trailer Maximum Weights

Type 02: trailers on overrun brakes - max. 3500kg gross trailer weight

1982 regulations demand that all trailers, including unbraked ones, must be clearly marked with their maximum gross weight in kg. This may be checked at any time by the police at a weighbridge. Since 1st January 1997, all unbraked trailer plates must show the year of manufacture

To comply with the D.o.T. Code of Practice for the recall of defective trailers less than 3500kg G.V.W. it is desirable that a trailer should carry a manufacturer's plate clearly showing:

* Manufacturers name and address chassis or serial number and model number
* Number of axles
* Maximum weight per axle maximum
* Nose weight of coupling
* Maximum gross weight (G.V.W.)
* Date of manufacture

Driving Licenses

You must hold a full driving license to tow anything.
Most drivers who passed their test before 1 January 1997 have license categories allowing them to drive vehicle and trailer combinations weighing up to 8.25 tonnes.

With effect from 1 January 1997 the second EC Directive on Driving Licenses (91/439/EEC) came into effect, affecting new drivers passing their test after that date and HGV drivers who obtained their license after 31 December 1991.

The net result is that new drivers will only be allowed to drive and tow the following combinations:

* Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (category B) with a 750kg trailer (4.25 tonnes total MAM).
* Category B vehicles with larger trailers i.e. > 750kg, provided that the combined MAM does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and the gross MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. To be able to tow combinations outside this ruling requires the passing of an additional test.
* New HGV drivers and those who have passed their HGV tests since 1 January 1992 will be restricted to towing trailers up to 750kg until they pass an additional test.

Detail of the Regulation
The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No 842 classifies vehicles according to either:

"Maximum authorised mass" (permitted maximum weight). Vehicles over 3,500kg MAM are classified as LARGE GOODS VEHICLES (LGV's) ? Number of seats. Vehicles having more than 8 seats (not including the drivers) are classified as PASSENGER CARRYING VEHICLES (PCV's)

Requires Additional qualifications for people to drive LGV's & PCV's

Vehicle Categories

The main non - LGV (unified) licence categories are:

Category A: Motor cycles (with or without a sidecar), including tricycles and mopeds.

Category B: Motor vehicles with:

* A maximum authorised mass (MAM) not over 3,500kg
* A maximum of 8 seats (not including the driver's seat)

Trailers being towed by vehicles in this category must either:

* Be not more than 750kg MAM - making a maximum authorised Train Weight of 4,250kg
* Have a MAM which does not: - exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle
* Have a MAM which does not: - Have a train weight exceeding 3,500kg

Drivers of vehicles in this category wishing to tow trailers which do not comply with either of the above conditions must have a B + E entitlement.

The Main Categories of LGV Licences

he main non - LGV (unified) licence categories are:

Category C1
Rigid goods vehicles over 3,500kg but NOT over 7,500kg. Vehicles drawing trailers not over 750kg maximum authorised mass are included in this category

Category C1+E
Combinations of vehicles in Category C1 plus trailers over 750kg maximum authorised mass, but with an overall maximum authorised mass (gross train weight) not over 12,000kg

Category C
Rigid goods vehicles over 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM - thisexpression has the same meaning as permitted maximum weight - PMW). Entitlement holders may also drawtrailers not over 750kg MAM.

Category C+E:
Articulated vehicles and drawbar combinations whose semi - trailers and trailers have a MAM greater than those stipulated in Category C

NB: The 'E' relates to trailers and semi-trailers over 750kg maximum authorised mass.

These categories are for drivers who previously held old style ("ordinary") licences (in either Group A or Group B) issued before 1 June 1990 allowing them to retain their previous entitlement under the old style ordinary licences.

Drivers in these two categories are also permitted to drive PCV's provided they do not:

* Carry more than 8 passengers
* Use the vehicle for 'hire and reward' work

Glossary of terms used in this guide

Unladen Weight (UW)
The weight of the trailer (or towing vehicle) less removable optional equipment and load

Gross Weight
The total weight of the trailer (or towing vehicle) and load Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or Gross Weight Mass (GWM) The total weight of the towing vehicle and its load

Maximum Gross Weight (MGW)
The maximum figure set by the manufacturer for the gross weight. This will normally be the technically permissible maximum based on the carrying capacity of the tyres, axles, coupling, suspension and chassis but may have been adjusted downwards for commercial reasons

Technically Permissible Maximum Weight
The technically permissible maximum based on the capacity of the tyres, axles, coupling, suspension and chassis

Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)
As maximum gross weight above. The latest EC term as used in the Driver Licensing Regulations

Gross Train Weight (GTW )
The maximum allowable combined weight (combined MAM) of the towing vehicle and trailer as set by the towing vehicle manufacturer

Payload:
The difference between the gross weight of the trailer and its unladen weight, i.e. The load carrying capacity

Kerb Weight/Kerbside Weight
The weight of the towing vehicle (without payload), including all fluids required for operation (95/48/EEC: Vehicle, 90% full tank, 68kg driver and 7kg luggage.)

Vertical Static Load/Nose Load
The weight imposed on the towball or eye by the trailer coupling

Over-run Braking System:
A trailer braking system operated by the action of the trailer bearing on the towing vehicle under deceleration

Power Operated Braking System
A trailer braking system which is operated directly by the Action of the foot brake on the towing vehicle

Wheel Track
Horizontal distance between the centre lines of the wheels across the width of the vehicle or trailer

Wheel Base
Horizontal distance between the centre lines of the wheels of multi-axle vehicles or trailers along the length of the vehicle or trailer

Becktons Ltd Disclaimer

The information in this guide is intended as a guide. It is as accurate at the time of publication as the editor is able to make it. Neither the Editor nor Becktons Ltd nor any other person or company associated with the production of this guide accepts any responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be in the text.

It is the responsibility of any person wishing to depend on the facts contained in the Becktons Boat Trailers website to check for themselves with original documentation or any updating regulations, instruments or changes in the law.