Discussion
Got pulled in my flatbed just outside the Blackwall tunnel a few days ago.80kg's over on axle 4 (allowed 150 over apparently), rear mudflaps hooked up, weld on a side bar cracked, locking pins on the bolts that I remove to swing the rear lights in and out for Moffett access not secured.Quite a decent bunch really.Let me on my way after 20 mins.
One thing we did learn from the experience is that we had the weights completely wrong in terms of spreading the load on this truck.It was under weight in terms of how much the goods weighed on paper, but wasn't in terms of where it was all positioned on the axles.On paper, to all those at our yard, I could have still taken my 3.5 ton moffett and been ok!
Any horror stories from anyone else?
One thing we did learn from the experience is that we had the weights completely wrong in terms of spreading the load on this truck.It was under weight in terms of how much the goods weighed on paper, but wasn't in terms of where it was all positioned on the axles.On paper, to all those at our yard, I could have still taken my 3.5 ton moffett and been ok!
Any horror stories from anyone else?
I went to fetch some palletised farm food yesterday, and watched the fork truck driver put what i worked out to be just over 5 ton pallets against the blokes head board.
On a 18t 4 wheeler.
Needless to say when he loaded me i paid abit more attention to what he was doin.
Only ever been pulled by Vosa once, i was 1/2 a mile from the yard on my way back as id got an ABS red light come on.
Needless to say it was GV9 for the truck and just a general tacho and defect check for me.
They let me drive it to the yard.
Have heard all sorts of horror storys thou from others that have been stopped etc.
On a 18t 4 wheeler.
Needless to say when he loaded me i paid abit more attention to what he was doin.
Only ever been pulled by Vosa once, i was 1/2 a mile from the yard on my way back as id got an ABS red light come on.
Needless to say it was GV9 for the truck and just a general tacho and defect check for me.
They let me drive it to the yard.
Have heard all sorts of horror storys thou from others that have been stopped etc.
They don't seem to be consistent, I was once pulled at Dagenham A13 and he spotted a bald tyre and a brake pipe chaffing on the chassis. They let me off the tyre but gave me a 4 hour GV9 for the pipe. I was pulled last year at the Blackwall tunnel and got a warning for a slightly worn steering joint, something I'd never pick up on my daily checks, when I asked if he was issuing a GV9 he said it wasn't bad enough. Both times i was in a hire truck, WTF?
Its always best to avoid them...
Id be most concerned about about axle weights, as its extremely difficult to get right when youre carrying aggregate or tarmac.
Ive had three. The first on my very first day and my birthday. Prohibited with four hours to get home for something that didnt matter. The second was a VOSA man with a traffic policeman. He went around the vehicle three times before finding something, having been hurried up by the police officer twice as we had run out of stuff to talk about. I dont recall what it was, but again it was extremely minor and the vehicle was re-MOTd without issue. This time I got a seven day prohibition, which Ive never heard of since - we used it for a further week before the MOT prep and re-test. I believe that the operator had ruffled some feathers and as a result all of his vehicles were on a red traffic light, which explains both incidents.
Finally, I drove past a permanent and frequently manned weighbridge, not taking my own advice, but with a very clean vehicle. Everyhting was perfect apart from the tightness of two wheel nuts on one of the steers. Not brilliant, but Id checked them that morning! As a result I wasnt fined and was allowed to leave (prohibited and then released) after tightening them up again. It turned out that two studs had stretched and they were all replaced.
Id be most concerned about about axle weights, as its extremely difficult to get right when youre carrying aggregate or tarmac.
Ive had three. The first on my very first day and my birthday. Prohibited with four hours to get home for something that didnt matter. The second was a VOSA man with a traffic policeman. He went around the vehicle three times before finding something, having been hurried up by the police officer twice as we had run out of stuff to talk about. I dont recall what it was, but again it was extremely minor and the vehicle was re-MOTd without issue. This time I got a seven day prohibition, which Ive never heard of since - we used it for a further week before the MOT prep and re-test. I believe that the operator had ruffled some feathers and as a result all of his vehicles were on a red traffic light, which explains both incidents.
Finally, I drove past a permanent and frequently manned weighbridge, not taking my own advice, but with a very clean vehicle. Everyhting was perfect apart from the tightness of two wheel nuts on one of the steers. Not brilliant, but Id checked them that morning! As a result I wasnt fined and was allowed to leave (prohibited and then released) after tightening them up again. It turned out that two studs had stretched and they were all replaced.
Was pulled off the A13 at Dagenham today by the Met and taken to the local Vosa yard where the Met police were having a day of pulling in goods vehicles.
I had my Digi card put into a computor, that brought up a couple of infringements. I had the printouts with the info 'why' written on the back, plus I keep a diary and always keep a note of all things during the working day.
Unit and trailer was checked, along with my licences and I was sent on my way.
I had my Digi card put into a computor, that brought up a couple of infringements. I had the printouts with the info 'why' written on the back, plus I keep a diary and always keep a note of all things during the working day.
Unit and trailer was checked, along with my licences and I was sent on my way.
4key said:
Cliff, theyve got anpr link up in that yard to the cameras all the way from the 406, that unit you was using probably has a marker against it which is why you was pulled in, they rarely do random stops on uk motors there.
I was driving an unwritten agency truck pulling an ECS fridge, so you're probably right 4key.BMR said:
Do VOSA ever bother with vans? Just curious as I was driving by a check point last night in the works van and saw the high vis'd up person in the road but he was facing the other way pulling in a truck.
I think the rule of thumb is anything that carries a digi card. Might be wrong though.They were outin force yesterday on the A303 at Cartgate, we pulled in to get some food and the first lorry park on the right was full so we went round the loop and back to the long parks on the exit road and found Police and VoSA had clogged the whole place right up and there were no spaces left. Good job I didn't need to stop for a break as there was no-where to land the lorry i was in, I just carried on out and went down to Exeter Services and ate horrible Burger King.
The owners of the Cafe at Cartgate must hate VoSA days.
Actually it brings up an interesting question, If I pull in for a 45 min break and I am right up on time and as I arrive I get hassled by the infringment inspectors can I tell them to go away until I have had my 45 minute break and then deal with them once I have pissed and eaten ?
The owners of the Cafe at Cartgate must hate VoSA days.
Actually it brings up an interesting question, If I pull in for a 45 min break and I am right up on time and as I arrive I get hassled by the infringment inspectors can I tell them to go away until I have had my 45 minute break and then deal with them once I have pissed and eaten ?
Getragdogleg said:
Actually it brings up an interesting question, If I pull in for a 45 min break and I am right up on time and as I arrive I get hassled by the infringment inspectors can I tell them to go away until I have had my 45 minute break and then deal with them once I have pissed and eaten ?
Yep you can,they might not like it very much but you are on a legally required break.ZR1cliff said:
BMR said:
Do VOSA ever bother with vans? Just curious as I was driving by a check point last night in the works van and saw the high vis'd up person in the road but he was facing the other way pulling in a truck.
I think the rule of thumb is anything that carries a digi card. Might be wrong though.weight and vehicle roadworthiness and also immigration checks if people at wheel have poor
English and could be illegals.
police do spot checks on white vanman and unmarked trucks on the M25 northen section,looking for all sorts of naughty boys,but mainly movement of illegal goods.
I drive unmarked most of the time so have been pulled near waltham cross , she was very nice but declined to get in the cab !
I drive unmarked most of the time so have been pulled near waltham cross , she was very nice but declined to get in the cab !
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