March 21 - Effective from January 2016 in Germany, it is now compulsory for vehicles transporting abnormal loads to be equipped with a gauge that measures axle pressure if the vehicle has air or hydro-pneumatic suspension.
According to a statement from Bundesfachgruppe Schwertransporte und Kranarbeiten (BSK) on the European Association of Abnormal Road Transport and Mobile Cranes (ESTA) website, the gauge is there to check the axle pressure under suspicious circumstances.
Pressure gauges that will be recognised by the new rules include: manometers with conversion tables, and electronic systems that show the axle load by measuring the air pressure inside the suspension and also show the total weight of the tractor unit.
Vehicles that have a valid §70 from before March 20, 2015, have until June 30, 2021 to get a pressure gauge installed. Until then they can drive with a valid §70.
Vehicles that ordered a §70 before March 20, 2015 but obtained the document after this date will have six years from the starting date of the §70 permit to install a pressure gauge. It will not be possible to renew the §70 after this date.
If a §70 was ordered between March 20, 2015 and January 1, 2016, vehicles will have three years from the starting date of the §70 permit to install a pressure gauge.
