The Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Eamonn Brennan recently published an excellent piece on Fleet News UK reminding members to be sure they know and understand the law on towing. Whether for personal or commercial purposes, towing a trailer in the UK is governed by strict laws relating to licencing, speed limits and weight limits. Knowing the law eliminates any confusion that might arise when towing might be outside the scope of a company’s normal operations.
As a side note, the FTA’s guidance is equally helpful for non-professionals who only want to tow a utility trailer or caravan. Brennan says there are three primary factors to pay attention to:
- Licencing – There are strict requirements for both drivers and, where applicable, operators. Trailers and tow vehicles exceeding certain weight restrictions will require additional licence endorsements. For example, a driver with a class B licence can legally operate a trailer and tow vehicle combination of up to 3.5 tonnes. Higher combinations require a B+E licence that can be obtained after receiving sufficient training and passing a test.
- Driver Hours – Drivers towing trailers for personal use are not restricted to a certain number of hours. However, driving for employment limits hours, depending on the vehicle being operated. A driver with a vehicle not required to have a tachograph can drive for no more than 10 hours in a given day; vehicles with tachographs are subject to EU rules.
- Speed Limits – There are varying speed limits in place for different kinds of vehicles. The limits are in the midst of being changed, so it is best for drivers to check based on where they will be heading and the routes they plan on taking.
It is not a good idea to simply hook up a trailer and go without knowing the law. More often than not, those who violate the law do so ignorantly, not realising what it states until after they are caught and booked by the authorities. Do not make that mistake. Know the law on towing before you travel.
Trailer Training Available
The HGV Training Centre is proud to offer trailer training to both individuals and company drivers. Our training programmes focus on teaching drivers the necessary skills to safely tow utility trailers, horsebox trailers, caravans, etc. We offer advanced training to drivers that need a B+E licence for professional driving.
The good news with trailer training is that the law on towing does not require a practical skills test beyond the one already taken to earn a class B driving licence. Students can jump right into practical skills training in order to prepare them for that test. In light of that, we teach students the proper techniques for backing, cornering, braking and accelerating. We even teach students how to perform a proper safety inspection.
The law on towing is very strict. Make sure you know the law and that you or your drivers are properly trained and licenced.
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