Heavy Goods Vehicles

Frequently Asked Questions

• There are too many heavy goods vehicles using the street on which I live - can anything be done to stop them?
• My street is not suitable for use by heavy goods vehicles - can I have a sign put up saying this?
• Can I request a weight limit to be put on a particular street?
• A large vehicle is parking overnight on my street, what can I do?

There are too many heavy goods vehicles using the street on which I live - can anything be done to stop them?

This depends on where you live and why the heavy goods vehicles are using the street. If this is a legitimate route and these vehicles are accessing business premises nearby then we cannot prevent this. If, however, the street is being used as an alternative to more suitable routes then can be assessed for remedial action.

My street is not suitable for use by heavy goods vehicles - can I have a sign put up saying this?

If heavy goods vehicles are legitimately using this route to access premises then signs will not deter them. If, however, they are trying to find a shorter route and getting stuck this can be addressed using suitable signs.

Can I request a weight limit be put on a particular street?

If the street which you are concerned about has business or industrial premises along it or is a suitable route for heavy goods vehicles use then it is unlikely. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is required to introduce any weight limit and to allow access by heavy goods vehicles. These restrictions rely solely on police enforcement to be effective.

A large vehicle is parking overnight on my street, what can I do?

A Heavy Goods Vehicles is classed as a vehicle 3.5 Tonnes or above in weight. Heavy goods vehicles of this nature should have an Operator's Licence which entitles them to operate the vehicle on the highway. As part of the Licence requirement the owner must state where their Operating Centre is. An Operating Centre is an off-street location where the vehicle will be garaged at night. This is declared at the time of issuing an Operator's Licence. This does not include such things as overnight stops for long distance journeys where official areas are usually used.

The potential offence being committed by the owners of vehicles is one of not parking the vehicle overnight in its specified, off street parking area.

In order to inform the Traffic Commissioner that this licence is being abused there has to be proof that the vehicle has parked overnight in a location other than its Operating Centre. Information such as the offending vehicle's registration number, location and the dates when the vehicle is being parked overnight, the unit can then  pass on the information to the Traffic Commissioner. The Traffic Commissioner will investigate the matter and if he feels that an offence is being committed he will write to the owner of the vehicle to inform them that this action contravenes the conditions of their Licence.

This course of action is usually enough to stop the owner re-offending, as the ultimate sanction is that the Traffic Commissioner would withdraw the licence, making it impossible for the owner of the vehicle to continue to operate.
 

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