Vehicle size, weight and load limits – part one

In the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 legislation, the maximum weights and dimensions of UK goods vehicles took into account current EU legislation. There was also a Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulation in 1998 that came into effect on 1st January 1999 parallel to the 1986 Regulations.

Logistics and LGV / HGV driving companies can choose to comply with either set of Regulations, but any vehicle on six axles over 40 tonnes is permitted only under the Regulation of 1998.

Because of this, the weight across the EU for international transport is set at 40tonnes with a maximum length of 16.5m for articulated lorries, 12m for rigid vehicles and 18.75m for drawbar combinations.

Although there is no legal maximum height for vehicles in the UK, they must be able to pass underneath bridges.

Since February 2001, the same maximum dimensions have been kept, but the maximum weight for good vehicles has been raised to 44tonnes. This legislation is complex, including different weight and size limits for semi-trailers, as well as rigids, articulated lorries and drawbars.

Vehicles suspected of exceeding the legal limit may be weighted by an authorised highway authority officer, an examiner from VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) or by a police officer who has been authorised by a chief constable.