Scaffolding lorries, bodywork of scaffold?
Discussion
Followed a scaffolding lorry today that was a flatbed truck with the entire superstructure made up of scaffolding, no restraint to the rear, just a single ratchet strap over each element of the load that I could see, and also estate agent style flags extending outside the main body of the lorry.
My question is, is that actually legal? Is scaffold designed to withstand the loads imposed on it by being used on a vehicle.
Photos attached;
My question is, is that actually legal? Is scaffold designed to withstand the loads imposed on it by being used on a vehicle.
Photos attached;
Edited by Magog on Monday 20th May 19:27
Nickyboy said:
You'll never get anything slide off the back, the natural motion will always be towards the front, even hard acceleration wont provide enough opposite motion to shift them. Same reason plumbers roof pipes don't have caps on the back
Hmmm. Maybe with a pinch of salt.About 3 years ago I was following a truck which was loaded with a couple of enormous boulders. Was just lining up for an overtake when one of said boulders bounced out of the back and onto the road, where it made several large indentations! My, how we all laughed about it!
Nickyboy said:
You'll never get anything slide off the back, the natural motion will always be towards the front, even hard acceleration wont provide enough opposite motion to shift them. Same reason plumbers roof pipes don't have caps on the back
I've never seen a pipe box that wasn't secured both ends - it wouldn't take much forward motion to get a load of 32mm plastic sliding out the back!Nickyboy said:
You'll never get anything slide off the back, the natural motion will always be towards the front, even hard acceleration wont provide enough opposite motion to shift them. Same reason plumbers roof pipes don't have caps on the back
Beg to differ. I've seen what happens when an unsecured scaffold pole remains at the traffic lights when the truck drives off.Scaffolding poles do slide off the back of lorries. A number have been reported to the police as found int he road..
There is a colour code for scaffolding poles and normally the companies are only too willing to accept them back except when they have fallen off their lorries.
The problem arises, so I was told, with the poor suspension of the lorries. They bounce about a bit and if they are not tied down then this negates any advantages of friction. The legislation does mention a load being secured by more than its own weight.
Loads can shift. There can be few drivers who have not followed a scaffolding lorry that is leaning to one side.
On the morning of the Tour de France run around Brighton some years ago I drove my police car along the route and on a particularly narrow bit a bloke was putting up scaffolding around a chip shop in Lewes in Sussex. The lorry took up 2/3rds of the road width, meaning I had to drive onto the narrow footway, and the scaffolding ran out to the middle of the narrow road, Fisher Street at the junction with Market Lane, the fish shop being The Friar. The friendly, open attitude of scaffold lorry drivers was apparent in the response to my questioning.
In his temper at having to take down the scaffolding he actually missed the lorry when throwing one pole onto it.
There is a colour code for scaffolding poles and normally the companies are only too willing to accept them back except when they have fallen off their lorries.
The problem arises, so I was told, with the poor suspension of the lorries. They bounce about a bit and if they are not tied down then this negates any advantages of friction. The legislation does mention a load being secured by more than its own weight.
Loads can shift. There can be few drivers who have not followed a scaffolding lorry that is leaning to one side.
On the morning of the Tour de France run around Brighton some years ago I drove my police car along the route and on a particularly narrow bit a bloke was putting up scaffolding around a chip shop in Lewes in Sussex. The lorry took up 2/3rds of the road width, meaning I had to drive onto the narrow footway, and the scaffolding ran out to the middle of the narrow road, Fisher Street at the junction with Market Lane, the fish shop being The Friar. The friendly, open attitude of scaffold lorry drivers was apparent in the response to my questioning.
In his temper at having to take down the scaffolding he actually missed the lorry when throwing one pole onto it.
Derek Smith said:
Scaffolding poles do slide off the back of lorries. A number have been reported to the police as found int he road..
There is a colour code for scaffolding poles and normally the companies are only too willing to accept them back except when they have fallen off their lorries.
The problem arises, so I was told, with the poor suspension of the lorries. They bounce about a bit and if they are not tied down then this negates any advantages of friction. The legislation does mention a load being secured by more than its own weight.
Loads can shift. There can be few drivers who have not followed a scaffolding lorry that is leaning to one side.
On the morning of the Tour de France run around Brighton some years ago I drove my police car along the route and on a particularly narrow bit a bloke was putting up scaffolding around a chip shop in Lewes in Sussex. The lorry took up 2/3rds of the road width, meaning I had to drive onto the narrow footway, and the scaffolding ran out to the middle of the narrow road, Fisher Street at the junction with Market Lane, the fish shop being The Friar. The friendly, open attitude of scaffold lorry drivers was apparent in the response to my questioning.
In his temper at having to take down the scaffolding he actually missed the lorry when throwing one pole onto it.
Hope you carefully checked his tyres, lights etc etc!There is a colour code for scaffolding poles and normally the companies are only too willing to accept them back except when they have fallen off their lorries.
The problem arises, so I was told, with the poor suspension of the lorries. They bounce about a bit and if they are not tied down then this negates any advantages of friction. The legislation does mention a load being secured by more than its own weight.
Loads can shift. There can be few drivers who have not followed a scaffolding lorry that is leaning to one side.
On the morning of the Tour de France run around Brighton some years ago I drove my police car along the route and on a particularly narrow bit a bloke was putting up scaffolding around a chip shop in Lewes in Sussex. The lorry took up 2/3rds of the road width, meaning I had to drive onto the narrow footway, and the scaffolding ran out to the middle of the narrow road, Fisher Street at the junction with Market Lane, the fish shop being The Friar. The friendly, open attitude of scaffold lorry drivers was apparent in the response to my questioning.
In his temper at having to take down the scaffolding he actually missed the lorry when throwing one pole onto it.
GaryGlitter said:
Beg to differ. I've seen what happens when an unsecured scaffold pole remains at the traffic lights when the truck drives off.
Well in 20 years of driving i've never seen any poles come loose. If they're loaded properly then no amount of hard acceleration will shift them. The trucks just don't have the speed to do it. If its just dumped on the back haphazardly then yes its possible
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff