Engineering Plant

Engineering plant can only be used under the STGO regulations if those operations cannot safely be done using a vehicle that complies with C&U Regs and vehicle approval.

Engineering plant mustn’t carry any load or lift or transport goods or burden – except its own essential equipment – while it’s being used in the construction, maintenance or repair of materials that:

• have been excavated and lifted by the apparatus on the plant
• the plant is specially designed to treat

Categories

Cat 1 (exceeds 44,000 kgs):

• up to 46,000 kgs with a minimum of 5 axles
• up to 50,000 kgs with a minimum of 6 axles
• construction and use maximum weights apply to vehicle axle and gross weights
• 2 working days’ notice to highway and bridge authorities

Speed limits:

• motorway 60 mph
• dual carriageway 50 mph
• other roads 40 mph

Cat 2 (not exceeding 80,000 kgs):

• minimum of 6 axles
• maximum axle weight of 12,500 kgs
• 2 working days’ notice to highway and bridge authorities

Speed limits:

• motorway 40 mph
• dual carriageway 35 mph
• other roads 30 mph

Cat 3 (not exceeding 150,000 kgs):

• minimum of 6 axles
• maximum axle weight of 16,500 kgs
• 5 working days’ notice to highway and bridge authorities

Speed limits:

• motorway 40 mph
• dual carriageway 35 mph
• other roads 30 mph

You do not have to carry movement order notices in the vehicle.

Slow plant:

• axle weight exceeding 16,500 kgs

Speed limits:

• motorway 20 mph
• other roads 12 mph

Vehicle special order movements

Used for:

• vehicles with weights in excess of 150,000 kgs or 16,500 kgs per axle:
• vehicle special order issued by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
• 5 working days’ notice to highway and bridge authorities
• 2 working days’ notice to police

Authorisation for the vehicle movement must be carried in the vehicle. If the authorisation is not carried, the vehicle will be considered as operating under C&U and AW Regs.

Vehicle excise duty

Engineering plant is taxable under the ‘special vehicle’ class (at the same rate as a basic goods vehicle) if it meets the definition of mobile pumping vehicle, digging machine, or road roller. Other types of engineering plant are taxed under the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) rate, as if the machinery were a load carried on a goods vehicle, rather than being built into it.

Plating and testing

Engineering plant and non-engineering plant are no longer exempt from the plating and testing regulations.

Drivers’ hours and tachograph regulations

Drivers of engineering plant do not have to follow EU drivers’ hours and tachograph regulations or GB domestic drivers’ hour’s rules. This is because they are not carrying goods or passengers by road. 

If goods were carried then the normal rules would apply. You can find out more in the guide to Drivers’ hours and tachographs rules: goods vehicles (GV262).

Driving licence

Drivers of engineering plant (as defined under the STGO regulations) do not have to hold a vocational licence, and this class of vehicle can therefore be driven by the holder of a car driving licence (category B).

Source – DVSA