THE RULES – WHAT A COF TRAILER MUST HAVE: Certified heavy vehicle brakes Heavy trailers first registered on or after 1 July 2008 generally require brakes matched and certified between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Engineering certification The design and build must be signed off by a heavy vehicle specialist certifier (LT400) before the trailer can be certified for the road. Six monthly COF inspections At an approved heavy vehicle inspection site, and the trailer must be always kept at COF standard. Road user charges (RUC) Heavy trailers pay distance- based RUC, bought in 1000km blocks, like any heavy vehicle. ROADSIDE CHECKS WHAT THE POLICE CAN DO Under section 125 of the Land Transport Act 1998, Police can require any vehicle they suspect may be a heavy vehicle to stop and be weighed. If a loaded trailer appears to be at or over 3,500kg GVM, even if it is registered as a WOF (light) trailer, it can be pulled over and weighed. The Police can weigh the full combination or separate the vehicles and weigh each independently to check compliance against GVM or gross laden weight. Unsafe loading is also an offence under sections 6 and 9 of Land Transport Act 1998, enforceable by Police regardless of whether the vehicle is classified as light or heavy. EXAMPLE: RAM 2500 + BALEX 770 COF TRAILER RAM 2500 GVM 4495kg Trailer GVM (Balex 770 COF rating) 4500kg RAM 2500 combination mass (GCM) 11437kg RAM 2500 max braked tow coupling rating 6942kg (pintle hook) / 4500kg (70mm ball) Max vertical coupling load (noseweight) — 450kg (check your manual, typically max 10% of braked tow rating) Feature 58 FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE This Balex Trailer 770 is COF- rated to 4,500kg and paired with the client’s RAM 2500.
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