7.5 ton truck hire

[saxmund]

I recently hired a 7.5 tonner, which I understand my car license allows me to do as long as it's not for gain or hire. However, someone told me the law was a bit greyer than that. Can someone confirm exactly what the appropriate circumstances are? In addition - neither of the trucks we got (on different days) had seatbelts. What is the law on this? I believe delivery drivers can drive without seatbelts, but we were doing a long motorway run on both days and I can't imagine we would count as delivery drivers. Can it really be legal to hire out a truck that doesn't have seatbelts?

Cheers.

Edited by saxmund on Friday 28th July 12:50

[MartinD]

Your car licence enables you to drive a 7.5 ton ONLY if you passed your test before '97 (?),after that you need to take a separate test to drive 3.5 to 7.5 ton vehicles.
Seatbelts. My '98 7.5 does not have seatbelts. I was once 'pulled' for not wearing my seatbelt , the BiB was surprised I did not have one fitted but did not seem bothered to take it any further.

[saxmund]

I'm getting on a bit, so I definitely passed before 1997. I was more interested in whether there were any restrictions on the circumstances, or whether it was for any non-commercial use.

[tubbinthug]

No problem on commercial use. Your license should have a C1 entitlement on it. I think it's only the minibus PSV category which has a 'not for hire or reward' limitation

I don't think it is a requirement to fit seeatbelts in anything over 3.5 tonnes, but not sure. I've never seen one while I've been arround LGV's

edited coz I can't spell

Edited by tubbinthug on Friday 28th July 14:11

[guru_1071]

also, if you had hired for a business to use, the business would need a operators licence.

we had to get one at work, which allows us to hire and park one overnight.

guess how we found this out.........

(a clue, the conversation started, 'can i help you officer......)

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Strangely enough...seat belts are optional on 7.5t

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

..or they certainly were last time I had owt to do with trucks

[saxmund]

Thx for the answers,

Phil

[wolf1]

Don't forget to use tachographs, otherwise Mr Police Man or Mr Ministry will not be best pleased if they pull you over

[tvradict]

wolf1 said:

Don't forget to use tachographs, otherwise Mr Police Man or Mr Ministry will not be best pleased if they pull you over

Only if you are using one for Commercial Purposes. If you dont need an O Licence you dont need to use Tacho's and there is no requirement to adhere to Drivers Hours Regs.

[IaHa]

You need to wear a seatbelt if one is fitted or available, unless you have an exemption or if you are involved in delivery with stops in the region of 50 metres apart.

Hire companies have got a lot stricter with the hire of 7.5 tonners recently because of the insurance issue more than anything else. They will usually want to have proof of private use before they will hire it out.

Often a user will hire the vehicle for private use, the user uses for commercial gain, he crashes, insurance will not pay out and the hire company is one vehicle down.