A couple of times (when rushing) when I’ve swapped trailers, I’ve forgotton to swap my plate over to the new trailer 
So, what would happen if I got stopped by the police / VOSA?
redbob:
A couple of times (when rushing) when I’ve swapped trailers, I’ve forgotton to swap my plate over to the new trailerSo, what would happen if I got stopped by the police / VOSA?
VOSA would not be best pleased that you had not carried out a walkaround check when you hooked up the trailer and may ask you for a donation to their survival fund.
Probably a fixed penalty of some sort, unless you are a farmer in which case it’s perfectly acceptable not to display a reg plate on your trailer, and nobody will object that your load is peppering the vehicle following you because you haven’t got a tailboard. Oh and those smashed rear lights that are covered in cow muck? It’s against a farmers human rights to be pulled up for that aswell. 
waddy640:
redbob:
A couple of times (when rushing) when I’ve swapped trailers, I’ve forgotton to swap my plate over to the new trailerSo, what would happen if I got stopped by the police / VOSA?
VOSA would not be best pleased that you had not carried out a walkaround check when you hooked up the trailer and may ask you for a donation to their survival fund.
I thought “If I get stopped, I’ll tell them it was there when I did my checks so it must have slipped out en-route” 
Muckaway:
Probably a fixed penalty of some sort, unless you are a farmer in which case it’s perfectly acceptable not to display a reg plate on your trailer, and nobody will object that your load is peppering the vehicle following you because you haven’t got a tailboard. Oh and those smashed rear lights that are covered in cow muck? It’s against a farmers human rights to be pulled up for that aswell.
You’re not keen on farmers then? 
redbob:
waddy640:
redbob:
A couple of times (when rushing) when I’ve swapped trailers, I’ve forgotton to swap my plate over to the new trailerSo, what would happen if I got stopped by the police / VOSA?
VOSA would not be best pleased that you had not carried out a walkaround check when you hooked up the trailer and may ask you for a donation to their survival fund.
I thought “If I get stopped, I’ll tell them it was there when I did my checks so it must have slipped out en-route”
So then they will do you under the Construction and Use Regs, unsafe vehicle…
redbob:
Muckaway:
Probably a fixed penalty of some sort, unless you are a farmer in which case it’s perfectly acceptable not to display a reg plate on your trailer, and nobody will object that your load is peppering the vehicle following you because you haven’t got a tailboard. Oh and those smashed rear lights that are covered in cow muck? It’s against a farmers human rights to be pulled up for that aswell.You’re not keen on farmers then?
No wonder they have a high suicide rate, people like you give them an inferiority complex
When you suddenly remember as you are driving down the road stop and take the spare plate of the back of the unit and use that, every single unit has a spare plate on the back for just this situation. Just remember to put it back on the unit when you drop the trailer.
You could make a cardboard one but if you do don’t mention it on here as it sends people apoplectic with rage. 
Coffeeholic:
When you suddenly remember as you are driving down the road stop and take the spare plate of the back of the unit and use that, every single unit has a spare plate on the back for just this situation. Just remember to put it back on the unit when you drop the trailer.
In the days of the Scammell Mechanical Horse this was the normal practice.
£30 Fixed Penalty 
waddy640:
Coffeeholic:
When you suddenly remember as you are driving down the road stop and take the spare plate of the back of the unit and use that, every single unit has a spare plate on the back for just this situation. Just remember to put it back on the unit when you drop the trailer.In the days of the Scammell Mechanical Horse this was the normal practice.
In the days of Coffeeholic driving an artic this is on occasion the normal practice.
Martin:
redbob:
waddy640:
redbob:
A couple of times (when rushing) when I’ve swapped trailers, I’ve forgotton to swap my plate over to the new trailerSo, what would happen if I got stopped by the police / VOSA?
VOSA would not be best pleased that you had not carried out a walkaround check when you hooked up the trailer and may ask you for a donation to their survival fund.
I thought “If I get stopped, I’ll tell them it was there when I did my checks so it must have slipped out en-route”
So then they will do you under the Construction and Use Regs, unsafe vehicle…
Just tell them the cardboard one you made must have got soggy in the rain and fallen off.
redbob:
Muckaway:
Probably a fixed penalty of some sort, unless you are a farmer in which case it’s perfectly acceptable not to display a reg plate on your trailer, and nobody will object that your load is peppering the vehicle following you because you haven’t got a tailboard. Oh and those smashed rear lights that are covered in cow muck? It’s against a farmers human rights to be pulled up for that aswell.You’re not keen on farmers then?
Most farmers I deliver to are spot-on. Don’t expect miracles, don’t moan you are too early (half 7), it just seems that VOSA, Police and Trading Standards are missing a cash windfall with the number of F.P.Ns they could dish out!
Just the same for builders trucks that leave our pit (50% overload etc)
Coffeeholic:
When you suddenly remember as you are driving down the road stop and take the spare plate of the back of the unit and use that, every single unit has a spare plate on the back for just this situation. Just remember to put it back on the unit when you drop the trailer.
Unfortunately a lot of drivers these days wouldn’t carry anything to undo the bolts that hold the plate onto the unit.
if i forget which i used to regularly, then when i was stopped i would act totally innocent and swear i put it on before i set off, apologise profusely and say, hang on i,ll get the spare out of the cupboard and put it on, worked everytime
redbob:
A couple of times (when rushing) when I’ve swapped trailers, I’ve forgotton to swap my plate over to the new trailerSo, what would happen if I got stopped by the police / VOSA?
£30 FPN, no points.
tachograph:
Coffeeholic:
When you suddenly remember as you are driving down the road stop and take the spare plate of the back of the unit and use that, every single unit has a spare plate on the back for just this situation. Just remember to put it back on the unit when you drop the trailer.Unfortunately a lot of drivers these days wouldn’t carry anything to undo the bolts that hold the plate onto the unit.
Not my job, not been trained for that! 
I heard rumor a while back that some one was going around truck stops and msa’s nicking trailer numberplate from English registered trucks, then the gendarmerie /plod would happen to be waiting further down the road and pull them for no numberplate on the spot fine over there, those famous words you do not want to hear “you must pay”