Scots farmers will soon be able to pull heavier trailer loads with their tractors following a change to outdated legislation.
The Department for Transport this week announced plans to increase the weight limit for tractors and trailers and increase the effective speed limit for driving tractors.
Following consultations, which ran from November 2013 to January this year, government has confirmed the new maximum combination weight limit for tractors and trailers will increase to 31 tonnes, from 24.39 tonnes.
The effective speed limit will increase to 25mph, from 20mph previously, although tractors allowed to exceed this will continue to be subject to stricter design and regulatory requirements.
Government said the changes to legislation, which will come into force in spring 2015, were worth more than £60million to the industry.
“Britain’s farmers have long suffered under unnecessary regulation that simply has not kept up with today’s technology,” said transport minister Claire Penny.
“These changes will mean farmers can carry more produce per journey, delivering benefits of almost £62million per year.
“Helping farmers is a crucial part of the government’s long-term economic plan. The changes we are making will improve the capability of modern machinery and ensure the farming sector can thrive.”
NFU Scotland policy manager Gemma Thomson said the changes would be more reflective of the capabilities of modern machinery.
“Previous limits had forced farmers into making more journeys than necessary, and incentivised the use of smaller tractors to pull larger trailers in order to stay within the limits,” she said.
“The proposals are certainly a step in the right direction, NFU Scotland will continue to lobby on behalf of members and respond to the next consultation stage.”
Government said the changes were part of a phased approach to helping UK farmers, revealing it would consider further increases in weight and speed limits as well as drawing up plans for a roadworthiness test for some tractors and trailers by summer 2016.