One for the lorryists

[James1979]

Been known since September but HGVs for MOT need to be laden from 1st January.

Bring your heavy goods vehicle to annual test (MOT) appropriately laden - Moving On

Official advice and information for lorry, bus, coach and van operators and drivers, from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

movingon.blog.gov.uk

We have had to do that for a couple of years here as the load sim is knackered.

Everyone probably knows about this but just putting it up for those who don’t.

 

[Migmac]

Was asking my youngest if he knew about this. When their lorries go for test a loaded trailer is always sent with it.

 

[Cobbler]

I haven’t taken a lorry for test for many many years, but they used to have a hydraulic arm thing that jacked down on the bed, i always waited for the bed to give as they seemed brutal with it. Why has this been stopped? It seems to put a lot of extra difficulty on a garage that is arranging the test for an owner, or is it now always theowner who arranges & takes it for test.

 

[qwakers]

it hasn't. the rules say the lorry must be loaded or you must have a load simulator to use. not every station has one.

the old rules said you could present unladen and if the wheels locked you where good. its only this that has changed.

my lorry is always presented empty. partly because the brakes are spot on and it easily locks all 4 wheels, and partly because it weighs 9 ton of its gross weight of 15ton unladen, due to its conversion.

 

[James1979]

I haven’t taken a lorry for test for many many years, but they used to have a hydraulic arm thing that jacked down on the bed, i always waited for the bed to give as they seemed brutal with it. Why has this been stopped? It seems to put a lot of extra difficulty on a garage that is arranging the test for an owner, or is it now always theowner who arranges & takes it for test.

I don’t know why it’s changed is the answer. Maybe it’s to do with the liability of damaging your vehicle? The load simulator here ripped itself out of the floor one day and that was the end of that!

Could be that wasn’t the only one and they’ve identified a weakness in them?

May have been a Covid related change that’s been kept on. I know the testers don’t like the load sim as it eats into test time.

it hasn't. the rules say the lorry must be loaded or you must have a load simulator to use. not every station has one.

the old rules said you could present unladen and if the wheels locked you where good. its only this that has changed.

my lorry is always presented empty. partly because the brakes are spot on and it easily locks all 4 wheels, and partly because it weighs 9 ton of its gross weight of 15ton unladen, due to its conversion.

That’s why I put the link up. Laden or no test is pretty much what they’re saying now.

What’s your conversion? Some don’t require to be laden - removals lorries is one as is animal floats.

At 9/15 you may satisfy the over 50% rule anyway?

 

[James1979]

Was asking my youngest if he knew about this. When their lorries go for test a loaded trailer is always sent with it.

Units always have to have a loaded trailer. That’s been the case for a long while as far as I know.

 

[qwakers]

i am just over the 50% rule, its a race car transporter, think a bevertailed horsebox for cars so no exemption for me.

ill just leave a car in it. no biggie.

 

[James1979]

i am just over the 50% rule, its a race car transporter, think a bevertailed horsebox for cars so no exemption for me.

ill just leave a car in it. no biggie.

You may be exempt if it’s a false floor?

If it’s no big deal to put the car in then all good

Thought the link may help someone.

 

[qwakers]

no false floor, just a bent chassis at the back :lol:


a partly converted pic...

 

[James1979]

Has it got a drop down ramp?

If it has they’d never get the sim over your axle

 

[qwakers]

 

[8ob]

Strange laws regarding hgv trailer tests, tri axle trailers can be taken in empty but tandems had to be loaded.Always struck me as odd.

Bob

DVLA blurb

Understanding the brake test report for an unladen tri-axle semi-trailer​

Due to the difficulty of loading a tri-axle semi-trailer for a brake test, it can be tested unladen.

To pass the test, the service and parking brake systems must achieve a specified level of brake force depending on the number of wheels that lock.

This test only applies to unladen tri-axle semi-trailers. It’s not used for any other type of unladen trailer.

 

[James1979]

How is it difficult to load a tri axle?

Just put the IBCs in according to the plan and strap them down?

 

[8ob]

How is it difficult to load a tri axle?

Just put the IBCs in according to the plan and strap them down?

Its more to do with the weight, three nine ton axles in a row means putting 27t on the rear of the trailer, at the same time you need 12ton on the neck over the fifth wheel to get the load compensator on the tractor unit loaded up. that makes it an overloaded trailer.

Bob

 

[James1979]

Of course. Me being thick!

Cheers Bob.

 

[8ob]

Of course. Me being thick!

Cheers Bob.

Not really, nothing stopping them being partly loaded. my triaxle tipper used to get taken in empty and would obviously lock on every axle. Even partly loaded it would have shown up bind, ovality and imbalance, its odd they can let these through completely unladen.

Bob

 

[Bornfree]

Years ago I prepared an old B series 6 wheeler ERF for the test. It was a drop side tipper so to save taking the side's off and using the weight simulator I asked one of the drivers to put something in the back for the next morning. The test was at 9am so I drove to the testing station and I thought it was pulling hard and struggling but as it was a Gardner 180 I didn't expect much else. The pit jack struggled to lift the front axle and the brake roller's hit the highest figure they had seen. It was a 24 ton gross truck and it weighed 33 ton over the rollers the idiot had filled it with wet sand. It passed and the tester said " we will keep this between ourselves just get home and tip that off"

 

[Trevorleach]

Its more to do with the weight, three nine ton axles in a row means putting 27t on the rear of the trailer, at the same time you need 12ton on the neck over the fifth wheel to get the load compensator on the tractor unit loaded up. that makes it an overloaded trailer.

Bob

That would leave 5 ton for the weight of the truck and trailer?
I reckon you are a load planner and all the drivers just love you

Cant remember last time I saw a tractor unit or trailer with a LSV.

 

[Old Dog]

With the new stuff the load sensing is done through the ECU's and various sensors.

 

[James1979]

With the new stuff the load sensing is done through the ECU's and various sensors.

Never seen that. All LSVs on the stuff I see here

I’ll have to look but the last trailer I took for MOT was 1970 I think. Could be 70-something but I’m sure it was 70.

Wire handbrake on one axle No ABS, exempt from most of the lights. Cattle float.