GENERAL HAULAGE GUIDE The Legislation covering goods vehicles is very extensive and includes everything from driving licence requirements to hazardous and abnormal loads. The information below is provided as a general guide to assist your business to operate safely and within the law.
DRIVING LICENCES In order to drive a heavy goods vehicle, you must hold a licence authorising you to drive that particular class of vehicle. The categories are broken down as follows: •
Category C1 - rigid goods vehicle exceeding 3,500 but not exceeding 7,500 kg
•
Category C1E - rigid goods vehicle as above (C1) plus a trailer (E).
If your driving test was passed prior to 1 January 1997 both of the above categories will appear on your ‘ordinary’ car driving licence and you are legally entitled to drive those classes of vehicle. However, this will be subject to a code 107 ‘restriction’ which means the combined vehicle and trailer must not exceed 8,250kg. This effectively means that you can only tow a trailer of 750 kg, should you wish to tow a larger trailer (over 750 kg) then you must sit and pass a further driving test for an unrestricted C1E entitlement which will allow you to drive a combination up to 12,000kg. •
Category C - rigid goods vehicle exceeding 7,500 kg.
•
Category CE - articulated goods vehicle.
MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS (unless otherwise displayed) Up to 7,500 kg Over 7,500 kg
Single carriageway
50 mph
Dual carriageway
60 mph
Motorway
70 mph
Single carriageway
40 mph
Dual carriageway
50 mph
Motorway
60 mph 101
