In plain English, what is the legal requirements around transporting planing or surfacing plant?

Since 2004, MAC Surfacing under the trading banner of MC Transport (formerly MC Transport (Tipton) Limited) have been transporting our own plant and equipment in house as well as plant for numerous Tier 1 or 2 Surfacing contractors.

In just the last 16 years alone, plant has got heavier but clients do not understand that a Paver of 2020 weighs heavier than a Paver of 2004. In order for the EU to implement Euro Emissions standards to engines, additional equipment and solutions have been installed in order to comply with the emissions requirements. This is at least one main reason why plant is considerably heavier.

As a qualified Transport Manager alongside two other named Transport managers and various in house consultants, we have an obligation to run our business legally.

Below are some of the combinations and the outcomes with regards to weight:

• JCB 3CX Compact Streetmaster and Vogele 1803-3i - on the border
• Vogele 1803-3i and HAMM 161 roller - overweight
• Wirtgen W150i on a Wagon and Drag combination - overweight
• JCB 3CX Compact Streetmaster, HAMM 135 roller and Vogele 1803-3i - definitley overweight
• Fully laden W100Fi on a Wagon and Drag combination - overweight

These are just a few examples and it is important to bear in mind that our tractor unit and trailer combination as well as extras on the plant themselves will effect the results.

We can be sure that anyone that uses these combinations will most likely still be overweight and if you are a responsible outfit, you are employing a supplier that is putting public safety at risk.

There are numerous other combinations and we do have responsible operators that say that we are wrong or have found alternative solutions - we have checked them all out and are yet to find anything that is legal. We will not break the law when it comes to this but every week, we have companies that query why we will only deliver on two loads as opposed to one.

I strongly welcome the debate on this , I would like to do some best practice and will also put stats if we have something of strong debate.

Now for the plug.. if you need a knowledgable, responsible contractor for the transport of your plant and equipment. PM me today and we can talk..