Great news for construction companies! JCB lobbied for and successfully achieved a regulation change allowing wheeled machinery to tow trailers on roads. This could save businesses thousands annually.

The new rule applies to England, Scotland, and Wales. The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) created a new permit (Vehicle Special Order) for this purpose. Construction companies can now use wheeled equipment like backhoe loaders and excavators to haul trailers on highways for road construction, maintenance and repairs.

Richard Brooks, JCB’s Group Product Innovation Director said: “Recognition by the VCA of the benefits of safely towing a trailer behind these types of wheeled machines will be welcomed by contractors and equipment owners. We have been pushing for this change in legislation, as it will greatly increase the versatility and productivity of this type of wheeled machine. By towing a trailer to and from site, customers will reduce the need for additional vehicles to carry materials and tools, cutting emissions and unnecessary traffic, while increasing efficiency in road construction maintenance and repair.”

JCB persevered for years to convince the Department for Transport (DfT) and the VCA that using trailers with wheeled machinery is efficient and practical, even aiding tasks like pothole repair. While this is initially a temporary exception to existing regulations, JCB remains committed to making it permanent and will continue collaborating with relevant agencies.

Previously, despite having trailer hitches available for various wheeled machines, towing them on public roads was illegal. The new regulation allows machines like JCB’s backhoe loaders (including the 3CX Compact) and wheeled excavators (like the Hydradig and Pothole Pro) to tow unladen trailers or trailers carrying materials and tools to and from road construction, repair or maintenance sites. This significantly improves customer versatility and productivity while reducing the need for extra vehicles.

Towing is permitted on all roads except motorways, with a speed limit of 20 mph. The wheeled machinery must be registered for road use and comply with all road vehicle construction and use regulations. The total length of the combined machine and trailer cannot exceed 8 meters, and the trailer must display the same license plate as the towing machine.

This is a fantastic initiative that will reduce emissions and make wheeled JCB machinery even more versatile than they already are. Businesses will benefit from increased efficiency, as well as cutting emissions – leading to a greener construction industry.

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