Question:
please can you refer me to the exact content page or legislation that enforces the maximum weight per vehicle?
We load Superlink Tautliners from SA to our neighbouring countries, loading a max of 32T per vehicle.
I know we can load up to 34T, depending on the vehicle’s weight.
The guys in Zimbabwe are trying to push us to load max weight, so I want to give them in writing to confirm our limitations.
Your assistance is highly appreciated.
Answer:
There are provisos (specific regulations) in the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) that determine (in conjunction with one another) the maximum payload that a vehicle may carry. These deal with mass on axles, mass on groups of axles, tyre carrying ratings, maximum mass allowed, distribution of mass, power-to-mass ratio and the bridge formula.
In addition – you have to take into consideration any equipment (tools, storage bins, refrigeration, spare tyres) or other additions like long range fuel tanks that will change your real mass (as opposed to tare mass) and will affect your payload.
You would need to weigh the vehicles with all the equipment / additional tools and the driver (and assistant if applicable) with a full load of fuel to determine exactly what your maximum payload would be (per vehicle).
Assistance in this regard is done by the RFA for its Members.
It is a simple process to follow – but needs to be done accurately for each combination of vehicles.
Regards,
Gavin Kelly
Chief Executive Officer
