Reubs766:
Just a quick thought, how many people actually know the legal axle weights for the wagon they drive on a daily basis? Surely, like height of vehicle/trailer, it’s something we should all be taking note of?
Off the top of me head…7, 5.2 or 5.4, 10.5 or 10.8, 8,8,8…i’ll check just how far out when next in the motor, you’re right though some people haven’t got a clue and could care less.
Best if you get weighed in now and again on an axle weigher at customers, useful too in getting the 5th wheel position right, its surprising the difference 2" either way makes…if only
In practice when i get a new lorry i always spend some time setting the 5th wheel in the right place to get the right weight spread.
Generally with artics whenever possible i like to load the trailer slightly front heavy but obviously legal and sensible, better for traction and overall stability, nothing worse than the tail wagging the dog.
edit…Be interesting to compare Martin Vikings axle weights, middle tag weight saver on small wheels hence the low weight.
Best pic I can take- it’s behind the passenger seat so I had to twist into a contortionist to take the shot. Lol.
edit…Be interesting to compare Martin Vikings axle weights, middle tag weight saver on small wheels hence the low weight.
Best pic I can take- it’s behind the passenger seat so I had to twist into a contortionist to take the shot. Lol.
Good pic that and thanks for posting, presumably you’re on a full size tag, didn’t realise a 11500 drive axle was UK approved on a standard vehicle, thought that was design weight only…just shows you think you know whats what and theres proof i still know bugger all…
I know the plate in mine has both design and UK legal weights displayed where yours has just the one set under UK max list.
Wont do a pic cos thats way above my limited PC skills, day off today but hope i remember to note the plate when back at work tomorrow and post asap.
edit…Be interesting to compare Martin Vikings axle weights, middle tag weight saver on small wheels hence the low weight.
Best pic I can take- it’s behind the passenger seat so I had to twist into a contortionist to take the shot. Lol.
Good pic that and thanks for posting, presumably you’re on a full size tag, didn’t realise a 11500 drive axle was UK approved on a standard vehicle, thought that was design weight only…just shows you think you know whats what and theres proof i still know bugger all…
I know the plate in mine has both design and UK legal weights displayed where yours has just the one set under UK max list.
Wont do a pic cos thats way above my limited PC skills, day off today but hope i remember to note the plate when back at work tomorrow and post asap.
Yep, full size wheels 315 /70 R22.5.
Those little wheels make me chuckle.
edit…Be interesting to compare Martin Vikings axle weights, middle tag weight saver on small wheels hence the low weight.
Best pic I can take- it’s behind the passenger seat so I had to twist into a contortionist to take the shot. Lol.
Good pic that and thanks for posting, presumably you’re on a full size tag, didn’t realise a 11500 drive axle was UK approved on a standard vehicle, thought that was design weight only…just shows you think you know whats what and theres proof i still know bugger all…
I know the plate in mine has both design and UK legal weights displayed where yours has just the one set under UK max list.
Wont do a pic cos thats way above my limited PC skills, day off today but hope i remember to note the plate when back at work tomorrow and post asap.
Yep, full size wheels 315 /70 R22.5.
Those little wheels make me chuckle.
Yes by choice i’d have a twin steer tractor any day, but the weight gained by the use of castors on the non steer tag is significant, weight is everything on my job.
I know mine and its an easy one to remember.
unit daf cf
7.100
7.100
11.500
trailer
8.000
8.000
8.000
and height of trailer is always +3 of whatever is on head board to be on safe side (only do this as I’ve bashed a 13.9 bridge
with a 13.9 trailer.
got pulled a couple of years ago down at Ringwood, was running at 44,600 kg, when I got to the check point I told the copper I thought I was a bit over, he said ok lets see, thought in was going to be for the high jump at that stage.
when they put me across the weigh bridge I was only between 1 and 2% over on my axel weights, the copper looked up and said driver you were right you are over but we don’t issue anything for weights under 5% then its only a warning letter for weights between5 and 10%, if you are over 10% they will prosecute you, so I was told to go on my way, happy days
just found this the new fixed penalty tariff from vosa only fines after 5%
Examples of penalties
The penalties if your vehicle exceeds its maximum permitted axle weight are:
Vehicle overweight by
Penalty
5% to 10% £100
10% to 15% £200
15% to 30% £300
More than 30% Court summons
wildfire:
got pulled a couple of years ago down at Ringwood, was running at 44,600 kg, when I got to the check point I told the copper I thought I was a bit over, he said ok lets see, thought in was going to be for the high jump at that stage.
when they put me across the weigh bridge I was only between 1 and 2% over on my axel weights, the copper looked up and said driver you were right you are over but we don’t issue anything for weights under 5% then its only a warning letter for weights between5 and 10%, if you are over 10% they will prosecute you, so I was told to go on my way, happy days
just found this the new fixed penalty tariff from vosa only fines after 5%
Examples of penalties
The penalties if your vehicle exceeds its maximum permitted axle weight are:
Vehicle overweight by
Penalty
5% to 10% £100
10% to 15% £200
15% to 30% £300
More than 30% Court summons
We supply the axle weighbridges that VOSA use so we know a bit about this. Whilst as a general rule they won’t prosecute a single overload below 5%, they WILL if it’s a regular occurrence. I know of one Scottish haulier who thought he was being very clever by sending all his vehicles out 4% overweight. After finding a few of these vehicles VOSA decided he was taking the mick and prosecuted him.
To answer an earlier query, there ARE sensors in the road. The accuracy is nothing like good enough to prosecute on but VOSA get a good enough idea of whether a vehicle is heavy or not and then pull it into a check site.
There are too many variable which affect the accuracy; road profile at the installation point, varying vehicle speeds, the fact that not all wheels are perfectly round, whether a vehicle is ‘bouncing’ as it crosses the sensor etc.
You’ll know how each weighing at a checkpoint is controlled to get maximum accuracy.
on the same subject are they able to ask for your name like the police,in 1997 i was pulled in for what was called operation mermaid[silly name]it was a multi agency check,after the police done their bit 2 other people came up and abruptly asked for my name,i replied who are you,their reply was the benefits agency as they were known then,i then told them to go forth and multiply,a police officer then intervened and i said i would tell him my name and address but not those two wxxxxxs,the point being the first few words above,would that apply to vosa cos as i said in my last post they are like council jobsworths
truckman20:
apologies for entering 3 times, poxy computer screwed up [thats my excuse anyway lol] how the heck do you delete posts on here if you make a mistake
Sorted it for you Generally you can delete your own posts if they’ve not been quoted.
truckman20:
apologies for entering 3 times, poxy computer screwed up [thats my excuse anyway lol] how the heck do you delete posts on here if you make a mistake
Just about to sort it, if you’ll stop ■■■■■■ about
truckman20:
apologies for entering 3 times, poxy computer screwed up [thats my excuse anyway lol] how the heck do you delete posts on here if you make a mistake
Sorted it for you Generally you can delete your own posts if they’ve not been quoted.
martinviking:
Always thought Jonny Foreigner was overweight anyway, especially if they load them up the same as us with 6 axles, they might get an extra ton or two payload but they’ve got to be careful where they put it !
They wont be over gross weight because they’ll be loading for the continent where the gross weight is 40 tons, which is one reason why British trucks cannot compete in European work. Most of our trucks are six leggers and weigh more as a result, therefore being able to carry less on an international trip than a European 4 wheeler within that 40 ton limit. I’ve been turned away from a chemical works in Germany before because they couldn’t load me due to my heavier empty weight, there was no chance of me risking it, I was simply told to ■■■■ off. Funny thing was that LWK Walter sent me 50 miles down the road to a storage warehouse for the very same company and I loaded exactly the same thing going back to the UK. A British six legger cannot compete on weight on European work against European 4x2’s and a British 4x2 is no good on UK only work where things are geared for 6x2’s at 44 ton.
Foreign trucks in the UK usually got done for being over on their drive axle, I don’t know the exact figures but the weight allowed on a single drive axle in the UK is less than in some other European countries such as France, so they could quite easily be totally legal when they loaded, and be illegal the minute they touch British soil.
Generally you can delete your own posts if they’ve not been quoted.