Transporting a ladder can be a challenging task, especially if you only have a car at your disposal (as opposed to a van or truck).

We know it can be tempting to just stick the ladder in your car boot and begin your journey home, but there are a number of laws in place that you risk breaking if you allow the ladder to overhang your vehicle.

What Not to Do

In a recent news story from Bradford, a car was stopped on a major road after police saw a ladder hanging out of the boot (see tweet below).

We couldn't ignore this on Mayo Avenue @WYP_BradfordS earlier today. Driver of the @UKVolkswagen Golf dealt with for having an insecure load.#opsteerside pic.twitter.com/xKSTtOeGBH

— Steerside Enforcement Team (@WYP_Steerside) July 17, 2024

Police say they dealt with the driver appropriately for having an insecure load. That ladder could have caused a lot of damage if it had fallen onto the road, so the police were quite right to intervene here.

We know this is an extreme case of an insecure load, but it may lead you to wonder: what exactly is the law on overhanging loads? Can you drive with something hanging out of your boot?

Overhanging Loads - The Law

If you are driving with your boot open to transport a ladder, you must ensure that nothing protrudes more than six inches to the side or three feet to the rear of your car’s outline. Anything that goes beyond these dimensions without following the proper protocol outlined below is classed as an “abnormal load” and is considered illegal.

If the ladder is overhanging between 1 and 2 metres at the back of your vehicle, you must make sure that the end of the ladder is clearly visible to other road users. You can do this by covering it in a hi-vis vest or brightly coloured cloth.

If the ladder is overhanging between 2 and 3.05 metres from the front or back of your vehicle, you must use rear and side marker boards to alert other road users to the overhang. Additionally, if the load is at the front of the vehicle, you will be required to have an attendant present.

If the ladder is overhanging at the front or back of your vehicle by over 3.05 metres, you must give the police 2 clear working days’ notice before your journey and will also need an attendant present.

For more tips on how to transport a ladder, read our blog post on ladder transportation guidelines.

The Easiest Ladders to Transport

Here at Ladders UK Direct we have a perfect solution to the ladder transportation problem – Telescopic Ladders.

Telescopic ladders are an increasingly popular ladder choice since they are easy to store, easy to transport and easy to handle. When collapsed, these ladders are small enough to fit in your car boot with no trouble!

We offer a selection of telescopic ladders at Ladders Direct UK. Ranging from heavy duty styles perfect for trade to more lightweight designs, they’re ideal for popping in the boot and using for all sorts of jobs around the house.

Check out our full range of telescopic ladders by clicking the button below – and remember to stay aware of overhanging load laws at all times when transporting items with your car boot open!

Telescopic Ladders

Ladders have been helping us with our daily lives for over 10,000 years – we know this because they can be seen in Spanish cave paintings from around 8,000 BC and are even mentioned in the Bible. The word “ladder” therefore holds a rich history that dates back centuries.

Ngaro Cave Painting by Diane Wade Kettle is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

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