This is aimed at replies by those who work for vosa really.Why cant you “target” tractor and trailers more?The majority of them are over loaded and most dont even know what the weight limit for them is.I used to work at a mill and a tractor and trailer used to gross in at 36 tonnes with wheat on!Its hardly fair that trucks are targeted but not farmers.They are as dangerous especially when travelling with dual wheels on.Look at the old flats they use for bales the brakes wont work as if i am correct only fast tracks produce air.Ok manufacturers now are making the trailers better with brakes etc but alot still have old trailers on.Whats good enough for us truckers is good enough for farmers surely???I also think to drive a fast track you should have to take a hgv to many young lads pulling big loads at 40 mph with them with no experience is wrong!
Funny you should mention tractors, i saw a JCB with no rear lights working going past Pensford on the A37 a few nights ago.
I agree with your dilema, as every day they barge through a line of parked cars when it is NOT their right of way and push and intimidate other road users to get out their way.
Most i see are falling apart, lights hanging off, no number plates,under inflated tyres with over weight loads of srap metal and old gates that are sticking out ready to kill a motor biker or pedestrain, no restraint on the loads.
Funny you should say that… I left junction 14 heading south on the m6 this morning around 0430 and saw a vosa galaxy crawling across the next bridge down from j14 with its flashers on, red message scrolling and it happened to be infront of a tractor!
First time I have ever seen that…
A farmer will say he is poor when there is a £70,000 Vogue Range Rover parked on the gravel drive, there may be two, one for him, one for the wife,
Because they all have “shooters”!
They had a lay by sealed off last week on the A449 nr. Penkridge and had several tractors pulled in ! They were running one tractor trailer combo over some portable scales.
I saw them stopping a tractor & low loader with a digger on it a couple of weeks ago 
I heard the contractors that empty slurry and sludge from dairies and food factories have to have an O licence.
Bud143:
if i am correct only fast tracks produce air.!
no your wrong
24.390 is gross weight
technically the fastrac and unimog are the only ones allowed to go over 20mph
I can confirm there are quite a few manufactures making tractors running on air, Fendt and Deere to name two. I drive a deere that stops on a dustbin lid on air brakes its very different to its counterpart at the other depot that doesn’t have air brakes. My employer runs all their tractors and trailers on Olicence and 7 weeklys as we don’t meet agricultural/forestry exemptions.
Bud143:
the brakes wont work as if i am correct only fast tracks produce air
Nope, most big tractors have air fitted now and many of the larger agri trailers are fitted with commercial axles, air brakes and even ABS.
And as you can see from other posts on this thread VOSA do pull tractors.
I agree with your point on licencing though. It is mad that a 16 year old who has passed the very simple tractor test on a small 100hp tractor can then jump straight in a big tractor loaded up to over 24t and drive it on the roads legally.
One issue that farmers do sometimes have is that it is often much safer to run overweight than to run legally.
Take for example a modern 14 or 16 ton grain trailer. If you load it to its maximum weight and stick a 120hp tractor on the front you will technically be legal, but it won’t really be safe because the tractor isn’t up to the job. Switch that for a 200hp tractor and because the tractor is heavier you’re no longer legal even though in practice it would be much safer on the roads.
Paul
repton:
It is mad that a 16 year old who has passed the very simple tractor test on a small 100hp tractor can then jump straight in a big tractor loaded up to over 24t and drive it on the roads legally.Paul
the 16 year old where i work has failed it twice 
and is that any different to an 18 year old passing their class 1 in a brewery type, mini artic setup or baby wagon and drag then jumping into a stgo truck the next day?
Bud143:
They are as dangerous especially when travelling with dual wheels on.Look at the old flats they use for bales the brakes wont work as if i am correct only fast tracks produce air.
but it’s not like people are running around every day dualed up though, is it any worse than a wide load on a truck?
you can quite easily convert a trailer to run on a hydraulic brake setup or run both
d4c24a:
Bud143:
if i am correct only fast tracks produce air.!no your wrong
24.390 is gross weighttechnically the fastrac and unimog are the only ones allowed to go over 20mph
I know what the legal weight is i work for a farmer!You have mis quoted me i meant as in for trailer brakes
stevieboy308:
repton:
It is mad that a 16 year old who has passed the very simple tractor test on a small 100hp tractor can then jump straight in a big tractor loaded up to over 24t and drive it on the roads legally.Paul
the 16 year old where i work has failed it twice
and is that any different to an 18 year old passing their class 1 in a brewery type, mini artic setup or baby wagon and drag then jumping into a stgo truck the next day?[/quotE
The way we are taught and the vehicles they use are wrong but use your common sense an 18 year old wouldnt be let loose in a low loader the next day!
stevieboy308:
and is that any different to an 18 year old passing their class 1 in a brewery type, mini artic setup or baby wagon and drag then jumping into a stgo truck the next day?
Not really any different, I am not a fan of the change of age for driving HGVs, I think 21 was a lot more sensible.
Paul
there have been a few fastracs that i’ve struggled to overtake on dual carriageways driving at 52mph! wouldnt suprise me if some farmers have them running at 56mph!
and they’re the only ones who can legally tow 2 full length trailers at a time, they’ll be subbing for tosco next!! coming to an rdc near you soon
Frankly, most ‘young’ lads that are driving tractors around are far better at it than most of you so called professional lorry steerers are at 'steering’your lorry!!x
some 16 years boy who was all the time at Dad,all life near tractor and,so in 16 years old he can drive tractor much better for some 40 years old man,who was born in city,pass test.