Truck & Bus Forum - Fairground vehicles

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Fairground vehicles

Is there a law on the amount of trailers these fair ground trucks are allowed to tow on the public highway and are the drivers of these artic f/ground wagons allowed to drive these vehicles without having an HGV class one licence--some of these trucks we see on the roads are in excessof 60 feet long, surely there must be a limit to the lengths of these wagon trains and finally what about their driving/rest times. :confused:

There is probably 'grandfather rights' applying to this.
There may also be a lower maximum allowable speed . . .
(I can't trace anything official.)

Showman's goods vehicles and other vehicles that don't need an operator's licence

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg...2073132&r.s=sl

General Interest

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ons/DG_4022499

I have just seen one going South on the M6 with three trailors behind it, unfortunately I could not get a photo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Western SMT (Post 5987)

Thanks Western SMT lots of info here

I found a site that gave allowable overall lengths for 'road trains' with figures for multiple trailers - but I cannot resolve who is allowed to use such combinations.

Quote:

Regulation 7 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 states that the overall length of a vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the maximum length specified below :-

Combinations:-
* motor vehicle + 1 drawbar trailer 2 - 18.75 metres (see Note 3 below)

* showman's motor vehicle + 1 drawbar trailer where the trailer is living accommodation - 22 metres

* motor vehicle + 2 trailers - 25.9 metres (motor vehicle 9.2 metres max, only one trailer may exceed 7 metres),

* motor vehicle + 3 trailers - 25.9 metres (motor vehicle 9.2 metres max, no trailer may exceed 7 metres),

* articulated bus and a bus drawing a trailer - 18.75 metres (from 1/4/2003)

* articulated vehicle + semi-trailer (see Note 2 below) - 15.5 metres, (see Note 4 below)

* articulated vehicle + semi-trailer which is a low-loader manufactured on or after 1/4/91 - 18 metres. (see Note 1 below)

* Note 1 - Except trailers and combinations including trailers constructed and normally used for abnormal length loads or plant trailers for road construction.
* Note 2 - Except combinations involving towing broken down vehicles or trailers constructed and normally used for abnormal length loads.
* Note 3 - If motor vehicle manufactured before 1st June 1998 - 18 metres unless certain conditions apply - until 31/12/2006.
* Note 4 - Up to 14.04 metres trailer or 16.5 metres combination (16.69 metres for car-transporters) if semi-trailer meets turning circle requirements (Regulations 13A or 13B).

http://www.transportsfriend.org/road/dims.html

Taken from DVLA

Special Trailer - Applies to showman’s rigid vehicles over 12,000kg pulling laden trailers over 4,000kg.

Showman’s Haulage Vehicle - The term “Showman’s Haulage Vehicle” means a vehicle which is constructed and used on public roads solely for haulage and not for the purpose of carrying or having superimposed upon it any load except such as is necessary for its propulsion or equipment and which is registered in the name of a person following the business of a travelling showman and used solely by him for the purpose of his business and for no other purpose.

The “Special Vehicle” taxation class encompasses the following vehicles:

Mobile Crane, Mobile Pumps
Digging Machine
Works Truck
Road Roller
Showman’s HGV
Showman’s Haulage, Special Trailer
Vehicles of these descriptions weighing up to 3,500kg pay the PLG rate and tax in the PLG class. Vehicles of these descriptions over 3,500kg pay the basic HGV rate and license in the Special Vehicles Class.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/~/media/pdf/leaflets/v149.ashx

It’s the DVLA so safe to ‘ok & open’ then click on ‘showman’ on left

Thanks Western SMT, quite a bit of interesting info there, I believe one showman in Yorkshire was pulled and the length of his train was taken by the police and found to be one foot(12") over the legal amount which was reported to be 60 feet, this guy was fined a few quid, but honestly I`ve seen these vehicles pulling a couple of 40`trailers and believe it or not ,a twinned wheeled caravan behind that lot----they are like the farmers who believe they are above the law pulling all kind of implements behind tractors showing no lights and no number plates----but thats another story------any farmers on here to reply to that, would love to hear their explaination to that!!!!!!

There appear to be 'allowances' to pull multiple trailers - so why don't we see general operators running 'land trains'?
The concessions published above seem to concentrate on taxation for showmen.
I can believe that showmen are allowed multiple trailers and exceptional (!) length - after all we regularly see them - but I cannot find anything in writing that defines this.

Have we no traffic police members?