Comments on: Convoy update

By: Ian Lacey

Ian Lacey — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:04:51 +0000

Part of the problem is that there is no reference to the unladen vehicle / trailer weight on the VTG (plating) certificate issued by VOSA. We are frequently asked at the point of delivery within BY (particularly by Zhlobyn customs) where it states upon the paperwork the unladen weight.

Now, taking into account the old adage, “bulls#*t baffles brains”, if such an ‘official’ document stating this information were to be made available, then many a problem could be avoided, assuming the actual weight of the load is spot on!

Now, I think I might just be able to lay my hands on some such ‘official’ documents, all nicely laminated, etc. We just need to weigh the fleet first!

As for Andy’s problem last year, well you should have offered to run the trailer, both loaded and empty over their feet, then they could have seen (or felt) for themselves just exactly how heavy it was!

By: Jenny Allison

Jenny Allison — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:12:35 +0000

Brilliant answer Andy ha ha

By: Andy Wardle

Andy Wardle — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:34:25 +0000

Don and I had the same problem at Zhlobin last year- they asked me how heavy was the truck when empty and I said it was a very heavy trailer …..well it was!!! Honest!!!

By: Don Moore

Don Moore — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:21:13 +0000

You are spot on Ian. I had exactly the same problem caused by not knowing the U/L weight of vehicles and dodgy scales. If they are a couple of kilos out it is not long before you are a couple of tonnes out on the load. The BY customs seem very fixated on weights. Regards
Don Moore

By: Rob Allison

Rob Allison — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:56:09 +0000

Good work you guys!! See you soon

By: Ian Lacey

Ian Lacey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:32:30 +0000

The answer to the problem is to obtain the unladen weight of each detached trailer, then once the trailer is fully loaded, re-weigh it to obtain the payload, then work the manifest weight back from that.

The unladen weight of each vehicle / trailer should be written onto the vehicle as a point of reference for the BY customs.

Weighing each item on a set of dodgy old scales is simply not accurate enough!

By: Don Moore

Don Moore — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:09:05 +0000

You have my sympathy- I think you may have suffered a thing called ‘progressive error’ I had the same trouble on a couple of occasions- Give me a phone when you get back if you like- Best wishes

By: Andy Wardle

Andy Wardle — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:48:59 +0000

A problem that turns out not to be a problem? In Belarus customs? never!!!!! ))