FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Please note that this page is for your information and whilst we will endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, NBC Vehicle Solutions Ltd cannot be held responsible for problems arising from using this information.
As part of our service, this page is here to answer legal questions you may have. Use it to keep up to date, and please let us know of updates and changes.
The latest we have heard is of reflective tape required on box vans after October 2009.
This is a link to the governments Transport Office website www.transportoffice.gov.uk .
Height
For international journeys, a 4m height limit applies. Within the UK, there is no legal height limit, although any vehicle over 3m must display the travelling height in the cab. The main constraint on height is the vehicle’s ability to negotiate under motorway bridges, so the practical maximum is usually 4.8 or 4.9m.
Width
Dry freight trucks: legal max 2,550mm. NBC Vehicle Solutions Ltd recommend a width of 2130mm and a max of 2240mm on 3.5ton chassis, as wider can cause mirror visibility problems
Refrigerated trucks: 2,600mm (to accommodate 45mm insulated side panels and maintain internal load width).
Length
Permitted length depends on axle spacings.
Rigids: 12m
Artics: 15.5 or 16.5m provided kingpin to rear of trailer is within 12.2m and it meets turning circle requirements.
Turning circle
All vehicles now have to comply with turning circle legislation originally introduced for artics. This stipulates that when steering, the vehicle should not pass outside a 2.5m outer circle and a 5.3m inner circle. Rigid vehicles can alternatively meet a swing-out measurement of 8000mm (1000mm for vehicles with lift-axles.)
In theory this means that bodies can be longer than before, but NBC Vehicle Solutions Ltd feel that generally the old 60% overhang is still a safe measurement.
Up to 3,500kg
Vehicles and trailers below 3,500kg fall outside the C&U regulations – there is no legal requirement governing the weight of the towing vehicle and the weight of the trailers. Instead, the maximum GTW of a light truck or van is quoted by the vehicle manufacturer.
Trailers must not exceed 2,300mm width or 7,000mm length.
BODY WEIGHTS
When NBC Vehicle Solutions Ltd quote a body weight, we have had the vehicle weighed at:
Wastecycle
Private Road No4
Colwick Industrial Estate
Nottingham
0115 9403111
They are registered as a public weighbridge, and assure us the weight is accurate to 20KG.
Remember that the gross vehicle weight is its weight on the road, including fuel and driver.
Gross Weight - This is the weight of the vehicle fully laden, and is an indication of the total weight of everything on the bridge.
GVW - Gross Vehicle Weight
Tare Weight - This is the weight of the unladen vehicle, i.e. the weight you will use to calculate the vehicle’s load.
Net Weight - Gross weight less tare weight i.e. the weight of the load.
