AS THE Scottish harvest gets into full swing, NFU Scotland has encouraged all those taking agricultural vehicles, trailers and equipment on the road to make sure they understand the complex – and at times confusing – transport rules.

The union has pointed out that, in recent weeks, there have been a number of incidents involving enforcement authorities checking on farmers and contractors transporting goods on public roads.

From reports, it is apparent that there are grey areas in the legislation around what is an agricultural activity, when it is necessary to have an HGV or operators licence, when it is necessary for a vehicle to have an MOT and when vehicles should be running on red or white diesel?

NFUS already provides its members with a number of factsheets on transport legislation and has a transport helpline available to its members, and is now in the process of pulling together guidance for farmers and contractors, based on a range of typical transport scenarios, to outline the requirements needed to be met by those involved in moving goods.

Its president Jim McLaren said: “Using agricultural vehicles on the road to move goods or carry out farming operations is central to Scotland’s farming industry but the rules and regulations surrounding that kind of activity are nothing short of a nightmare. It is an area of legislation that affects virtually every farmer in the land and is desperately in need of simplification and clarification.

“Our recent involvement in a number of cases involving farm produce being moved have only highlighted how easy it is to fall foul of the requirements and be deemed to be breaking the laws on transport.

In one instance, subsequent investigation of the case suggests that the farmer had been working within the rules even though the authorities had charged the tractor driver at the time. That is symptomatic of the complexities and confusion that surround the legislation,” he said.

“At the union, we are working to provide all our members with the information they need to ensure they operate within the law and a transport telephone helpline is also at their disposal.

As we enter the crucial harvest period, I urge all farmers and contractors involved in road transport to take the time to ensure they are aware of the requirements, that they have the appropriate licence for the activity they are undertaking and that their vehicles are running on the correct fuel,” he said.