31.—(1) The total weight of—
(a)any Category 2 AILV carrying a load; or
(b)such of the vehicles comprised in a Category 2 AILV-combination as are carrying a load;
must be transmitted to the road through 6 or more axles.
(2) In sub-paragraphs (3) to (5) “load-bearing vehicle” means a vehicle mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b).
(3) The distance between any two adjacent axles of a load-bearing vehicle must not be less than 1 metre.
(4) Where the distance between two adjacent axles of a load-bearing vehicle is the distance specified in column 1 of Table 1, the axle weight must not exceed the weight specified in column 2 and the wheel weight must not exceed the weight specified in column 3.
Table 1
Category 2: axles and wheels
| Distance between adjacent axles | Axle weight | Wheel weight |
|---|---|---|
| (Column 1) | (Column 2) | (Column 3) |
| Less than 1.35 metres | 12,000 kilograms | 6,000 kilograms |
| 1.35 metres or more | 12,500 kilograms | 6,250 kilograms |
(5) But where—
(a)a load-bearing vehicle has axles in two or more groups of axles;
(b)the distance between the adjacent axles in each group is less than 2 metres; and
(c)the distance between the adjacent axles in different groups is more than 2 metres;
the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels in any group must not exceed 50,000 kilograms.