Requirements drastic and expensive
Strict vehicle regulations surprise sector
Mechanization companies, importers and manufacturers are at a crossroads. From 1 January 2018, an approval requirement for towed agricultural vehicles will apply in the Netherlands. This concerns transport vehicles and towed equipment. The strict requirements also come as a surprise to the federation of Fedecom.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (I&W) has chosen to implement the new European regulation in the Vehicle Regulations. This means that, in addition to the 'permanent requirements', newly sold vehicles must meet a strict duty of approval† These new regulations will come into effect on 1 January 2018. This causes major problems; new tractors and vehicles do not meet the requirements. The additional cost item is substantial.
Fedecom surprised
Trade association Fedecom says it is surprised with the implementation of the European regulation (EU 167/2013). They have been busy in the past year introducing a license plate on agricultural vehicles. With the rejection of the registration number, the approval requirement for vehicles also came to a standstill. However, the legislation has come into effect. For the time being, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is sticking to it, as a result of which new towed vehicles have to deal with strict requirements.
Other European countries (Belgium, Germany and France) use national approval requirements. The new regulation does not apply in these countries. According to the ministry, this is not possible in the Netherlands, because our country did not have a statutory approval requirement.
Substantial expense
The new regulations mainly include adjustments to the braking system. They are drastic and expensive. The costs run into the thousands of euros. Vehicles that do not meet the new requirements may no longer be sold in the Netherlands. The result is that mechanization companies, importers and manufacturers try to supply as many nameplates as possible with the year of construction 2017.
Obligation of approval in short:
- Vehicle over 8.000 kilos (R & S category): two-line braking system hydraulic or air pressure and automatic load-dependent brake adjustment ALR.
- Vehicle under 8.000 kilos (R&S category): overrun brake and breakaway braking device.
- Tractor: dual-line braking system
- Category R: underrun protection, side protection (above 40 kilometers per hour).
- Category R & S: width marking above 2,55 meters
Two-line braking system
The most important change is the obligation to have a dual-line braking system. It may be operated hydraulically or by air pressure. The requirement applies to vehicles with a maximum permissible laden mass of more than 8.000 kilograms. An additional problem is that new tractors are not equipped with a dual-line braking system as standard. On new tractors, 1 extra brake line is allowed until 2020. For existing tractors, this is 2021.
This concerns not only transport vehicles (category R), but also trailed implements (category S). A large feed mixer or irrigation reel must therefore also meet strict requirements. On vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of less than 8.000 kilos, a breakaway braking device and an overrun brake must be present.
2,55
meter
Protections
In addition to the braking system, transport vehicles must be equipped with an underrun protection and side shielding (above 40 kilometers per hour). Common abroad, but not in the Netherlands. With a vehicle width of more than 2,55 metres, both transport vehicles and implements must be provided with width markings. Europe uses a maximum width of 2,55 meters for transport vehicles. In the Netherlands this is the maximum bucket width. The vehicle may be a maximum of 3 meters wide with tires.
Procrastination
The sector has been surprised by the introduction of these new requirements. Not everyone is aware of this, as it turns out in practice. Fedecom has submitted an application to Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen to postpone the new requirements until January 1, 2019. The idea is to first introduce a registration requirement, followed by an MOT requirement and an approval requirement for vehicles with the new requirements.
Niels van der Boom
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