As most of us landscapers and garden maintenance providers frequently use a trailer to transport equipment and materials, it came to my attention today that I am to annually MOT my trailer. I routinely tow an Ifor Williams GD105, and today was the first I knew that such a test existed.
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/motoring/owning-a-vehicle/mot/types-of-vehicles-which-require-a-test/trailers.htm
I have the impression that the testing for trailers isn't enforced to a great degree, especially if the trailer is not on any official registers. The only news I ever hear is of VOSA pulling in farmers and their cattle trailers at the various cattle marts.
However, I was lead to believe that there will be greater general enforcement in Nothern Ireland come October 2012.
Do any fellow LJN members have any more information about trailer MOT testing, and even if they can share their experiences, good or bad, it would be greatly appriecated.
Andrew T // The Outsidedge
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I don't know anything about it but just want to express my opinion that I think it's a good idea, especially as it supports local garages rather than throws cash at the government. There are so many terrible trailers going around it might go some way to getting them off the roads before one of them kills somebody.
Having done some quick research, it seems that this law currently only applies in Northern Ireland - however I, like Dan whole heartily support it!
There are FAR too many home built death traps round here (as I imagine everywhere) - even some 'proper' trailers aren't immune to damage from overloading, abuse and neglect.
When i was looking at trailers last year, I frequently came across large trailers with none functioning brakes and on one occasion a wheel bearing so bad the wheel was sat at a 45 degree angle!!
Will be interesting to see if the law rolls out in England too.
In NI all vehicle testing is carried out in one of about 15 DVA test centres around the province, so it is more money for the government! That said, it is a thorough test and I appreciate knowing if there is anything dodgy about my, always old, heaps. £30.50 for Light Van test, and £18.50 for retest of faults identified after you have taken it away and got them sorted...so no direct incentive for testers to be over zealous.
The police were stopping people towing trailers in Preston last week.
Never understood how some trailers are allowed on the road, falling to bits, well over loaded etc
+ 1 For fully supporting trailer testing on the condition that it is for ALL road going trailers as its often the tiny ones that look shoddy. And also that the cost is kept sensible, say £20 or so for a 15 minute test.
I hope this is brought in all over the and the same goes for caravans, I was following on a few months ago the a frame was rotton and parted company with the car towing it , it flew into the central barrier and exploded all over the road,how no one was hurt is beyond me.
if you think of the amount of trailers and caravans on the road its nuts that no annual safety check is in force.
We have a 44ft Luton Freightmaster and that needs to be tested every 12 weeks...according to the haulage company. Strange that no one seems to know what the laws are - as the haulage company towed it for 4 years without a test and now it needs one and seems that this should have been done since forever. You might ask why it hasn't been done before...a good question which I don't have an answer for but the haulage company do as they have been pulled a few times too often and someone has gone Ah we need proof of testing...and these people are the pros....
Try finding out what has to be tested and what doesn't...I don't have time to fart about with these idiot websites and regs, it's about time central government sacked the idiots that write the twaddle that central government produces and gets in decent copywriters who can produce comprehensive copy.
Speaking of which can anyone point me to a comprehensive site re. operators licenses... e.g. http://www.transportmanagersolutions.co.uk/information.htm and then interperate this for companies who only need to operate on a vehicle hire basis and tell me you understand what your responsibilities are...nothing but a mental headache.