# The Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (Amendment) Order 1987, Article 9


In article 18(2), for sub-paragraph (k) there shall be substituted the following:
“(k) the following restrictions on weight shall apply:
(i) for any vehicle or combination of vehicles carrying the load in Category 1:
(a) regulations 75, 76, 78 and 79 of the Construction and Use Regulations shall apply, and in respect of an articulated vehicle, regulation 77 shall apply save for a vehicle to which
(b) below is applicable;
(b) for an articulated vehicle with a total of 5 or more axles and with a relevant axle spacing specified in column 2 of the Table below, the total weight shall not exceed the weight specified for that item in column 3 of the Table.
Table
1
2
3
Item
Relevant axle spacing (in metres)
Weight (in kilograms)
1
at least 6.5
40,000
2
at least 7.0
42,000
3
at least 7.5
44,000
4
at least 8.0
46,000
(ii) for any vehicle or combination of vehicles carrying the load in Category 2:
(a) the total weight shall be transmitted to the road through at least 5 axles;
(b) the total weight imposed on the road by all the wheels of any one axle shall not exceed 12,500 kilograms, and by any one wheel, 6,250 kilograms;
(c) if the distance between any two adjacent axles is at least 1.1 metres but less than 1.35 metres, the total weight imposed on the road by all the wheels of any one of those axles shall not exceed 12,000 kilograms, and by any one wheel, 6,000 kilograms;
(d) the distance between any two adjacent axles shall not be less than 1.1 metres;
(e) where the distance between the foremost and rearmost axles of the vehicle or vehicles carrying the load is at least as specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below, the total weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the weight given for that item in column 3 of the Table:
Table
1
2
3
Item
Distance between foremost and rearmost axles (in metres)
Weight (in kilograms)
1
5.07
38,000
2
5.33
40,000
3
6.0
45,000
4
6.67
50,000
5
7.33
55,000
6
8.0
60,000
7
8.67
65,000
8
9.33
70,000
9
10.0
75,000
10
10.67
80,000
(f) where the axles are in two or more groups (so that adjacent axles in each group are less than 2 metres apart and adjacent axles of different groups are more than 2 metres apart), then the total weight imposed on the road by all the wheels of any one group of axles shall not exceed 50,000 kilograms;
(iii) for any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles carrying the load in Category 3:
(a) the total weight shall be transmitted to the road through at least 6 axles;
(b) the total weight imposed on the road by all the wheels of any one axle shall not exceed 16,500 kilograms, and by any one wheel, 8,250 kilograms;
(c) if the distance between any two adjacent axles is at least 1.1 metres but less than 1.35 metres, the total weight imposed on the road by all the wheels of any one of those axles shall not exceed 15,000 kilograms, and by any one wheel 7,500 kilograms;
(d) the distance between any two adjacent axles shall not be less than 1.1 metres;
(e) where the distance between the foremost and rearmost axles of the vehicle or vehicles carrying the load is at least as specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below the total weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the weight given for that item in column 3 of the Table:
Table
1
2
3
Item
Distance between foremost and rearmost axles (in metres)
Weight (in kilograms)
1
5.77
80,000
2
6.23
85,000
3
6.68
90,000
4
7.14
95,000
5
7.59
100,000
6
8.05
105,000
7
8.50
110,000
8
8.95
115,000
9
9.41
120,000
10
9.86
125,000
11
10.32
130,000
12
10.77
135,000
13
11.23
140,000
14
11.68
145,000
15
12.14
150,000
(f) where the axles are in two or more groups (so that adjacent axles in each group are less than 1.5 metres apart and adjacent axles of different groups are more than 1.5 metres apart) then the total weight imposed on the road by all the wheels of any one group of axles shall not exceed 100,000 kilograms, or 90,000 kilograms for a group where the distance between any two adjacent axles of that group is less than 1.35 metres;
(iv) for the purpose of this sub-paragraph (k):
“axle” shall mean any number of wheels in line transversely;
“relevant axle spacing” shall have the same meaning as in regulation 77(1)of the Construction and Use Regulations;
(v) regulation 3(7) and (8) of the Construction and Use Regulations shall apply to determine the number of wheels and axles for the purpose of this sub-paragraph and regulation 3(10) to determine the distance between axles.”.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/1327/article/9 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/motor-vehicles-authorisation-of-special-types-amendment-order-1987/article-9
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.