The Week in Trucks

 

 

  

  

  

About these ads

The Week in Trucks

What are the rights and obligations of traffic officers when screening for overloading of trucks?

Question:

Can you please advise me on the rules and regulations on the distance and circumstances that a traffic officer can order a truck driver to drive to a weighbridge from a mat scale?

Answer:

A traffic officer is given certain powers in terms of the National Road Traffic Act – specifically in this case in terms of Section 3 I – ascertain the dimensions of, the load on, or the mass, axle mass load or axle unit mass load of, any vehicle, or the mass of any combination of vehicles, loaded or unloaded, and if necessary for the purpose of ascertaining such mass, require any vehicle or combination of vehicles to proceed to a mass-meter or mass-measuring device, and if the mass of any vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds the mass allowed in terms of this Act, prohibit the operation of the vehicle or combination of vehicles on a public road until the mass has been reduced or adjusted to comply with this Act: Provided that where the load on a vehicle includes any hazardous substance as contemplated in the Hazardous Substances Act, 1973 (Act 15 of 1973), the reduction and handling of the mass shall be undertaken in terms of that Act;

There is NO condition in these powers as to the maximum distance (or length of journey) relating to the direction to weigh. This would be for practical reasons.

In most cases the vehicle would have been subjected to some version of screening process (which in most cases is not more than 2km away for control more than for concern over distance from multi-deck scales).

The circumstance is clear – the provision is to “ascertain such mass” – so the officer can direct any vehicle whether “overloaded or not”.

Regards

Gavin

;

Gavin Kelly Technical & Operations Manager Road Freight Association

What are the rights and obligations of traffic officers when screening for overloading of trucks?

Is it time to ditch your vehicle?

Taking into consideration ditching your automobile because you are fed up with Britain’s gridlocked roads?

And that doesn’t just imply leaving it at residence in favour of commuting on public transport – we’re talking about in fact obtaining rid of your car for great.

If you’re in this category, you are not alone. According to a new report from analysis charity, the Independent Transport Commission, the quantity of people who own their personal cars is likely to fall steeply over the subsequent 50 years.

This is primarily due to the cost of operating them, and due to the fact we’re sick of sitting in visitors jams.

Peak season

So are we quickly approaching the scenario identified as “peak car”, when the road ne2rk simply can’t accommodate any more cars, and the number of motives not to personal a automobile begins to outweigh the positive aspects of getting a single?

Not absolutely everyone thinks so. Forecasts from the Department for Transport recommend that traffic on all UK roads will enhance by 41% amongst 2010 and 2040 – so they clearly do not acquire into the argument that car usage is going to decline any time quickly.

Indeed, may possibly driverless vehicle technology not increase the number of vehicles on the road, given that it will take a lot of the anxiety and strife out of acquiring behind the wheel?

The Commission, however, is sticking to its guns, saying growing numbers of us will be put off driving by worsening targeted traffic conditions.

Price issues

It is not just targeted traffic that is placing us off auto ownership.

The fees of learning to drive and of operating and insuring a auto are amongst the principal reasons a lot of of us could consider dumping our motors.

There are a lot of other costs linked with owning a auto, such as fuel fees and parking charges, which offer excellent purpose to think about hanging up the car keys.

Take my case. It would be really valuable for my personal family to have a second vehicle, offered we have 2 young kids and live in the sticks. But my husband has rather gone for a moped to save cash.

This has the benefit of quite cheap operating charges and means he does not have to spend the £4 station auto park charges each and every day – a saving of about £80 a month.

Club class

So how will we get about if we no longer use our own vehicles?

The report says escalating numbers of us will turn to automobile clubs, where you rent a auto anytime you require one, auto-sharing and taxis.

It’s not tough to see the appeal of any of these choices.

Automobile clubs normally charge an annual fee, generally amongst £60 and £100, and then an hourly rate, generally starting from about £5.

According to the Income Guidance Service, if you drive significantly less than 6,000 miles a year, joining a auto club could save you more than £3,000 compared to operating your own automobile, and you don’t have to worry about servicing or repairs, or arranging toad tax and insurance coverage.

Problem shared…

Automobile-sharing is also properly worth thinking about – particularly if you’re a commuter and have a fellow workplace worker you can share fees with. If you do not, then there are a lot of lift share sites available, such as nationalcarshare.co.uk and blablacar.com exactly where you can sign up to be a passenger.

Most websites let you to join for totally free, and then look for people going in the very same path you want to. The only cost to you is a share of the petrol expenses.

If you are worried about obtaining into a vehicle with a stranger, most sites have a ratings system so you can verify out what other passengers say about them very first.

Country living

While all this makes good sense in theory, it surely feels as even though it is going to be a long time just before any person who doesn’t reside in an urban area will be in a position to get by effortlessly with no their personal car, specially if they have youngsters to ferry around.

In most rural locations, you’d be really tough pushed to find a vehicle club vehicle within walking distance, and fortunate to find a person prepared to routinely drop you at your door with a lift-share arrangement.

Probably this will all alter, but I for a single can’t see myself providing up my vehicle keys anytime quickly.

Is it time to ditch your vehicle?

Is it time to ditch your auto?

Taking into consideration ditching your car simply because you’re fed up with Britain’s gridlocked roads?

And that doesn’t just imply leaving it at home in favour of commuting on public transport – we’re speaking about in fact getting rid of your car for great.

If you’re in this category, you’re not alone. According to a new report from analysis charity, the Independent Transport Commission, the quantity of folks who own their personal automobiles is most likely to fall steeply over the next 50 years.

This is primarily due to the cost of running them, and because we’re sick of sitting in traffic jams.

Peak season

So are we rapidly approaching the situation identified as “peak car”, when the road ne2rk simply can’t accommodate any far more autos, and the number of causes not to personal a auto starts to outweigh the positive aspects of getting a single?

Not everybody thinks so. Forecasts from the Department for Transport suggest that site visitors on all UK roads will increase by 41% among 2010 and 2040 – so they clearly do not get into the argument that auto usage is going to decline any time quickly.

Certainly, may driverless auto technologies not boost the quantity of cars on the road, provided that it will take a lot of the pressure and strife out of getting behind the wheel?

The Commission, nevertheless, is sticking to its guns, saying rising numbers of us will be put off driving by worsening site visitors circumstances.

Price concerns

It’s not just targeted traffic that is placing us off car ownership.

The fees of learning to drive and of running and insuring a car are among the principal reasons many of us may consider dumping our motors.

There are lots of other costs connected with owning a auto, such as fuel fees and parking charges, which offer good explanation to take into account hanging up the automobile keys.

Take my case. It would be extremely helpful for my personal loved ones to have a second automobile, given we have 2 young kids and reside in the sticks. But my husband has rather gone for a moped to save income.

This has the advantage of very low-cost operating fees and implies he doesn’t have to spend the £4 station automobile park charges each and every day – a saving of about £80 a month.

Club class

So how will we get about if we no longer use our personal cars?

The report says increasing numbers of us will turn to auto clubs, exactly where you rent a automobile whenever you require a single, car-sharing and taxis.

It is not difficult to see the appeal of any of these alternatives.

Auto clubs generally charge an annual charge, normally among £60 and £100, and then an hourly price, normally beginning from around £5.

According to the Income Guidance Service, if you drive less than 6,000 miles a year, joining a car club could save you more than £3,000 compared to operating your own car, and you do not have to worry about servicing or repairs, or arranging toad tax and insurance.

Problem shared…

Auto-sharing is also nicely worth contemplating – specifically if you’re a commuter and have a fellow workplace worker you can share costs with. If you don’t, then there are a lot of lift share websites offered, such as nationalcarshare.co.uk and blablacar.com where you can sign up to be a passenger.

Most web sites permit you to join for free of charge, and then look for folks going in the identical path you want to. The only price to you is a share of the petrol expenses.

If you’re worried about getting into a vehicle with a stranger, most internet sites have a ratings program so you can verify out what other passengers say about them very first.

Country living

Whilst all this tends to make good sense in theory, it definitely feels as even though it’s going to be a lengthy time ahead of anybody who doesn’t reside in an urban region will be capable to get by effortlessly without their personal auto, specifically if they have youngsters to ferry around.

In most rural regions, you’d be very tough pushed to uncover a car club vehicle inside walking distance, and lucky to locate someone ready to routinely drop you at your door with a lift-share arrangement.

Probably this will all modify, but I for one can not see myself giving up my auto keys anytime quickly.

Is it time to ditch your auto?

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays

In amplification of the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of April, 2015 – released today for public consumption on the website of the Department of Trade & Industry – the Association commented that domestic new vehicle sales, particularly all categories of commercial vehicle sales, had been affected by the multiplicity and configuration of public holidays during the month. Supported by incentive packages, new car sales had held up relatively well. Continued strong growth in new vehicle exports had continued during the month.

In the event, April 2015 aggregate new vehicle sales at 44 503 units were slightly down from the 46 016 vehicles sold in April last year. Overall, out of the total reported Industry sales of 44 503 vehicles, an estimated 38 780 units or 87.2% represented dealer sales, 6.3% constituted sales to government, 4.2% to industry corporate fleets and 2.3% represented sales to the vehicle rental industry.

The April, 2015 new car market at 30 184 units reflected a decline of 594 units or a fall of 1.9% compared to the 30 778 new cars sold in April last year. Intense competition in a challenging, difficult tradingenvironment had resulted in incentive packages to promote new vehicle sales. Furthermore, a modestrecovery in the used vehicle market had also been noticed.

Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini buses during April, 2015 at 12 077 units reflected a decline of 774 units or a fall of 6.0% compared to the 12 851 light commercial vehiclessold during the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vehicles in the investment-driven medium and heavy truck segments of the Industry had registered declines. Medium commercial vehicle sales at 777 units and heavy commercial vehicle sales at1 465 units, reflected a fall of 38 units or 4.7% in the case of medium commercials, and a decline of 107 vehicles or a fall of 6.8% in the case of heavy trucks and buses – compared to the corresponding month last year.

Vehicle exports had continued to contribute positively to South Africa’s current account of the balance of payments. Industry new vehicle exports at 23 615 units during April, 2015 had again registered exceptionally strong growth compared to the corresponding month last year rising by 6 813 vehicles or 40.5% relative to the 16 802 export sales in April, 2014.

Vehicle exports for 2015 were on target to improve by around 25% in volume terms to a record export number of about 325 000 for the year.

At this stage, NAAMSA continued to project marginal volume growth in domestic sales based on an assumption of a slight improvement in South Africa’s economic growth rate, relative stability in automotive industry industrial relations, stable interest rates and unchanged credit ratings.

New vehicle industry production would continue to benefit from projected higher export numbers.

[Media from NAAMSA]

Also view:

Vehicle Finance, Car Insurance and Road Safety

Buying and Selling a Vehicle – Informed decisions and the Vehicle Retailer

April vehicle sales affected by public holidays