Sideguard deadline extended for haulage operators
Date: 01 August 2007
Haulage trucks with sideguards missing where they should have them will have until April 2008 to get the problem rectified.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) recently changed its interpretation of the requirements for sideguards. The changes included "short bodied" vehicles with cranes mounted behind the cab, some tankers and those trucks with sleeper cabs.
However, some freight haulage trucks had sideguards fitted incorrectly, meaning that they are actually non-compliant.
Because of the number of vehicles that are not compliant and representations made by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) on the issue, VOSA has decided to give operators until April 2008 to resolve the situation.
Until then, operators with non-complying trucks will merely be notified of the problem.
The RHA notes that "sideguards rails should be fitted where regulations require them and measurements checked to establish whether a part is missing".
Meanwhile it has emerged that VOSA is to extend its trial checks of international freight haulage vehicles into its regular targeted enforcement work, in order to improve road safety.
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