Our instructors have first hand experience of commercial towing, with both light vehicles (B+E) and Heavy Goods Vehicles/HGVs (C+E). This includes transporting containers, exhibition trailers, plant machinery, palletised goods, mobile catering units and even equipment for Formula 1!
UK law now permits anyone who has passed a Category B (car / light vehicle) test to tow a trailer up to 3,500kg, without the need to take an additional test.
However, towing trailers introduces many risks both for the general safety of the driver and other road users, but also in relation to the security of loads being transported. It is, therefore, essential that drivers receive training in understanding the risks involved, and avoiding expensive and dangerous incidents through lack of knowledge and/or experience.
If you have a trailer or caravan and perhaps lack confidence in towing; would simply like to ensure that you are towing safely or feel that you could do with help with a particular aspect of towing, we can help!
Our trailer towing courses will cover:
- Understanding legal requirements
- Safety checks
- Coupling
- Safe loading (goods trailers)
- Manoeuvring, including reversing
- On-road driving
- Uncoupling
Towing at work
Whilst, legally, individuals do not have to obtain a separate licence for trailer towing, the law is very clear with regards to towing for work purposes.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act (HASAW) and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) explicitly outline the requirement for adequate training for all work equipment – this includes trailers – which has the potential to cause harm.
Failure to provide such training can lead to prosecutions, hefty fines and potentially custodial sentences, not to mention significant reputational damage, following an incident.
On completion of training, employers will be provided with an assessment report, in addition to a certificate confirming successful completion of the training for compliance purposes.
