How long is an articulated truck

Vehicles and vehicle combinations that comply with the Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations as amended must not exceed the following lengths. Articulated goods vehicle carrying containers or swap bodies up to a max length of 45 feet on intermodal transport:. Providing the longitudinal distance from the axis of the king pin to the rear of the semi-trailer does not exceed The total length measured from the front of the loading area of the goods vehicle to the rear of the trailer must not exceed When two trailers are drawn only one of them may exceed 7m overall length.

If three trailers are drawn, then none of them may exceed 7m overall length. In any case the overall length of the motor vehicle may not exceed 9. Semi-trailer carrying containers or swap bodies up to a max length of 45 feet on intermodal transport:.

For a semi-trailer the length given is that between the king pin and rear of the trailer. Additionally, the distance between the king pin and any point at the front of the trailer must not exceed 2. Where a semi-trailer has more than one king pin or king pin position, distances should be measured from the foremost king pin or king pin position for vehicles manufactured after 1 June and for any other vehicles from the rearmost king pin or king pin position.

Road hauliers who are part of the scheme may operate the new length semi-trailers at either one metre or two metres above the current Construction and Use maximum length limit for articulated vehicles, ie at a maximum length of Maximum width is the distance between longitudinal planes passing through the extreme lateral projecting points of the vehicle, of any receptacle which is of a permanent character and able to be used repeatedly, and any fittings on, or attached to the vehicle.

Vehicles and trailers which comply with the Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regulations as amended must not exceed the following widths. Width restrictions do not apply to a broken-down vehicle when being towed because of the breakdown. A fitting attachment either on the vehicle, or on a container on the vehicle, which in neither case adds to their carrying capacity but allows the transfer of the container between road and rail vehicles or vice versa, and for securing the container on the rail vehicle.

A tailboard let down to allow the carrying of a long load but not bearing any weight of the load. A bridging plate fitted to the trailer of a vehicle transporter allowing vehicles being carried to be moved between the two parts. A container manufactured before 30 October , not being a sea container, ie a container designed primarily for carriage by sea without an accompanying road vehicle.

Any special appliance or apparatus, eg a crane or other apparatus being essentially a permanent fixture which does not increase the carrying capacity of the vehicle. Also, for length purposes that part of a trailer designed for attaching it to another vehicle, and for a semi-trailer the thickness of any front or rear wall and of any part forward of the front wall or to the rear of the rear wall which does not increase its load carrying space.

Under the Construction and Use Regulations, loads may not project by more than 3. What is the legal weight limit on UK roads? How long is a truck and trailer UK? General requirements - maximum overall lengths permitted. How much can a 26 ton lorry carry? Dimensions and Capabilities. How heavy is a HGV? What length is a long vehicle? What is a lorry in Britain? What is the length of an articulated lorry? What is the maximum weight for a vehicle to park on a footpath in Europe? Similar Asks.

Popular Asks. Overloading a vehicle is illegal and therefore insurance cover can be voided if the vehicle is involved in a crash. It causes excessive wear and damage to roads , bridges and pavements at the expense of the tax payer.

It is unfair on other operators. Exceeding weight limits is unfair competition as more load is moved per journey. An axle load of more than 10, kilograms for a single non-driving axle and 11, kilograms for a single driving axle.

A load that projects more than 2 metres to the front or rear of the vehicle must be fitted with an end marker. Side markers must be displayed if the front or rear projection exceeds 3 metres. Drivers should be wary about axle overloads when removing large portions of the load from either the front or the rear of the vehicle.

This guidance takes account of amendments to the regulations that came into force on 1 October The tables below are a summary of the maximum overall lengths permitted for vehicles and vehicle combinations as set out in regulation 7 of the Construction and Use Regulations. The tables highlight the principal criteria that must be met but other criteria or exemptions may be applicable, including those in the rules referred to in the rest of this document. For full details the regulations should be consulted.

There are detailed rules which need to be considered when determining the overall length of a vehicle. Regulation 3 of the Construction and Use Regulations provides a definition of overall vehicle length - setting out the parts of the vehicle that must be included and excluded in determining the overall length.

This is a summary of the relevant parts of Regulation 3. Overall length is, in relation to a vehicle, the distance between transverse planes passing through the extreme forward and rearward projecting points of the vehicle inclusive of all parts of the vehicle, of any receptacle which is of a permanent character and accordingly strong enough for repeated use, and any fitting on, or attached to, the vehicle except—.

As set out in the table above under item n , items that meet the definition of special appliance or apparatus are not included when determining the overall length of a vehicle.

The overall length of a vehicle is measured from the extreme front to the extreme rear usually the front bumper to the rear of the loadbearing surface or chassis - see the section on overall length above. In relation to any special appliance or apparatus that projects beyond the foremost or rearmost point of the vehicle, Regulation 81 d iii states that such parts should be treated as if they were a load projecting from the front or rear of the vehicle.

Therefore, these projecting parts are subject to the same requirements additional signs, attendants, police notification etc that would apply to loads that project beyond the front or rear of the vehicle or vehicle combination. Please see the paragraph of this sheet that provides guidance on projecting loads for further information. The illustrations below provide some examples.

In this case, the maximum overall length including the crane is 12m maximum overall length of a wheeled motor vehicle, other than a bus. Exceptions from the maximum permitted trailer length limits are provided for trailers that are used to carry indivisible loads of exceptional length [footnote 3].

These exceptions are set out in paragraphs 3 and 3A of regulation 7 of the Construction and Use Regulations see annex A. No maximum length for such trailers is specified in Regulation 7. However, Regulation 82 of the Construction and Use Regulations restrictions on the use of vehicles carrying wide or long loads or having fixed appliances or apparatus states that the maximum overall length of a trailer carrying a load of exceptional length, together with any forward or rearward projections, shall not exceed Where a trailer is exempt from maximum permitted trailer length limits by virtue of the fact that it is used for the carriage of indivisible loads of exceptional length, Regulation 7 also provides an exemption from the maximum permitted vehicle combination lengths see paragraph 3 of Regulation 7.