I’m sure this is a stupid post and one answer is to use the search function.
However, i’m driving my car around Provence at the moment on holiday. Pretty nearly all the lorries i see in France are 2x4 tractors and not the 2x6 tractors with a lift axle that i’ve driven in the uk.
Here i show my ignorance. Are the weight limits different in france that everyone drives lighter tractor units??
38 t for 4 axled drawbars/artics
44 t for 5 axled drawbars/artics, This was increased from 40 t in 2012
so why are virtually all the tractor units two axled ? Is there no demand for 44 t capability in France?
emwmarine:
so why are virtually all the tractor units two axled ? Is there no demand for 44 t capability in France?
I might not have explained that properly
Total axles on complete combination
4 ( 2 on main unit, 2 on trailer ) 38 t
5 ( 2 on main unit, 3 on trailer ) 44 t
For 44t, all axles must be on air is that right? No steel springs on the unit.
bullitt:
For 44t, all axles must be on air is that right? No steel springs on the unit.
Correct.
Btw, Hope you are having a good time in the south of France and the weather is better than here in Normandie. 
It seems that around the med for about 50 miles north is the only place in france where it hasn’t been raining this week. still it’s cold for the time of year and the wind us blowing.
Huge number of EE registered lorries driving around.
Never mind the wind (Mistral), just enjoy the food and scenery
Looked at MeteoFrance for you and for the next few days, it’ supposed to be sunny and around 20°
emwmarine:
I’m sure this is a stupid post and one answer is to use the search function.However, i’m driving my car around Provence at the moment on holiday. Pretty nearly all the lorries i see in France are 2x4 tractors and not the 2x6 tractors with a lift axle that i’ve driven in the uk.
Here i show my ignorance. Are the weight limits different in france that everyone drives lighter tractor units??
pierrot 14:
38 t for 4 axled drawbars/artics
44 t for 5 axled drawbars/artics, This was increased from 40 t in 2012
For national work.
The European limit for International work is 40t on 5 axles.
Simon:
emwmarine:
I’m sure this is a stupid post and one answer is to use the search function.However, i’m driving my car around Provence at the moment on holiday. Pretty nearly all the lorries i see in France are 2x4 tractors and not the 2x6 tractors with a lift axle that i’ve driven in the uk.
Here i show my ignorance. Are the weight limits different in france that everyone drives lighter tractor units??
pierrot 14:
38 t for 4 axled drawbars/artics
44 t for 5 axled drawbars/artics, This was increased from 40 t in 2012For national work.
The European limit for International work is 40t on 5 axles.
Show me the link to that Simon so that I can show it to my bosses before I cross the channel to the UK, fully loaded, with 44t
It might be 40 tons in the books, but in real life its 40t, 44t, 50t and up to 60 tons when traversing Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark without any hassle from the authorities.
pierrot 14:
Simon:
emwmarine:
I’m sure this is a stupid post and one answer is to use the search function.However, i’m driving my car around Provence at the moment on holiday. Pretty nearly all the lorries i see in France are 2x4 tractors and not the 2x6 tractors with a lift axle that i’ve driven in the uk.
Here i show my ignorance. Are the weight limits different in france that everyone drives lighter tractor units??
pierrot 14:
38 t for 4 axled drawbars/artics
44 t for 5 axled drawbars/artics, This was increased from 40 t in 2012For national work.
The European limit for International work is 40t on 5 axles.
Show me the link to that Simon so that I can show it to my bosses before I cross the channel to the UK, fully loaded, with 44t
https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/weights_0.pdf
That’s all I can find quickly.
milodon:
It might be 40 tons in the books, but in real life its 40t, 44t, 50t and up to 60 tons when traversing Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark without any hassle from the authorities.
This is true 
pierrot 14:
Show me the link to that Simon so that I can show it to my bosses before I cross the channel to the UK, fully loaded, with 44t
They’re not still trying that! I thought the fact of having one blocked in Poole for 24hrs for being overweight might have put them off?
pierrot 14:
Simon:
emwmarine:
I’m sure this is a stupid post and one answer is to use the search function.However, i’m driving my car around Provence at the moment on holiday. Pretty nearly all the lorries i see in France are 2x4 tractors and not the 2x6 tractors with a lift axle that i’ve driven in the uk.
Here i show my ignorance. Are the weight limits different in france that everyone drives lighter tractor units??
pierrot 14:
38 t for 4 axled drawbars/artics
44 t for 5 axled drawbars/artics, This was increased from 40 t in 2012For national work.
The European limit for International work is 40t on 5 axles.
Show me the link to that Simon so that I can show it to my bosses before I cross the channel to the UK, fully loaded.
acea.be/uploads/publication … Rg_pUk0mtg
Page 2 of the above. The EU maximum gtw for international transport between member countries is 40t on 5 or 6 axles with an 11.5t drive axle, 24t trailer bogie and an overall height of 4m. The only legal exception is the reciprocal agreement between UK, Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark allowing 44t on 6 axles which the EU recognises. Internal weight and dimension limits are not an EU matter and member states set their own, sometimes much higher limits. We all know that this rule is ignored by operators and uninforced by most countries, but it is the law.
Interestingly, and contrary to comments being made the only country which I have experienced this being enforced, and admittedly it’s at least 15 years ago now, was Sweden. Even though their limit was goodness knows what, they were on the lookout for 5 axle foreign vehicles which looked heavy around the Malmo area heading for a ferry. Having a silo I was stopped a couple of times by the police, not weighed they just wanted to see the CMR and as it showed a payload of about 25t they lost interest.
The 11.5t drive axle requirement produces one of the many anomalies in UK law, in that a gtw of upto 40,000kg gives a the drive axle limit of 11,5t which the EU tells us we must allow. Once you get to 40,001kg gtw, this then falls under domestic legislation and the drive axle limit drops to 10.5t. It will be interesting to see what happens to this after Brexit, if we live long enough to see it that is.
