Ok so I have to drive a heavy trailer for work (just this once) from Fribourg to Geneva)
The trailer is rated at 2000kg
I do not have my swiss permit category for this. what are the issues if getting caught? Just a fine , retrait de permit or what.
In the case of an accident I guess insurance would not pay ?

Now in the USA I had my permit up to 11000 kg (26000lbs) but for some reason they did not transfer this In Belgium I also had it. I also do have a lot of experience hauling heavy loads ( boats in particular )

so it is not a question of capability but rather only legal.

Thanks

Is your US license still valid.
If so go and tell them that they got it wrong and you are allowed to tow what ever weight class you were originally certified.

When I went for my Swiss lisence it was automatically included. It showed on the back, even thou I hadn't thought to ask for it.

I would be uneasy towing with out proper permits, etc. I used to see the police pulling over random people on road out of Morges and checking them. Anyone driving a truck or towing a trailer was fair game as far as I could tell.

Don't do it dude. Not until you've checked that it's legal*.

If something goes wrong you could be in serious trouble (unlikely, but not worth the risk IMO).

Your work should not be asking you to do this without checking your legality either. I'm guessing they'd also be liable if you got caught or had an accident.

If it's that urgent, pay a driver.


* A 2000kg trailer would come under category BE (<3500kg), so I'd have thought it should be simple to get this added.

work knows about it. but it is an urgency.....

The US one is no longer valid (as it also was no longer valid when I changed it over) I guess that is why it did not get added....

I was thinking about the " I didnt know " card....and then show the AMerican Lisence and see if I can get my way out of it.

My only concern would be an accident without the proper insurance (if they refuse to pay out (which I suspect.)

Oh well I will try to get out of it but if it needs to be done than it needs to be done.....

Thanks for the responses, much appreciated

That'd never work.

My concern would be in a bad accident, you might be going to jail.

...and what if in your accident you injure a third party leaving them crippled and requiring intensive medical support for the rest of their lives. The costs for this can easily reach several million (especially in Switzerland). Without insurance you'd be personally liable for the costs and then you'd be really 'ed! And so would the injured person who would not get the support they need.

Don't do it.

i am more concerned that your company knows you dont have the correct licence but still want and expect you to do it....

ask them for a written statement that they will cover all costs for any fine or insurance claims as they are asking you to perform a task they know is illegal

Wouldn't matter a jot if it became a criminal investigation in the event of an accident. The OP would be the one taking the hit, not the company.

There's no liability in CH? Very different from UK. My uncle's company does a good trade in automatic licence checking for companies with drivers.

You only need a child running after a ball, or some idiot crashing into you - and then what? Insurance not valid - and sued for everything you own- just not worth it. Don't do it YOU would be responsible, not the company, as you know full well you do not have the correct licence for a heavy vehicle.

I'm guessing the company would be liable for something (insurance, negligence, whatever) but if the OP is involved in an accident he, as the driver, would be the one answerable for the direct consequences of that.

If he knowingly drives a vehicle for which he is not licensed to drive it's a criminal offence.

If caught best case is losing your license with a fine in the thousands. Worst case is landing in jail with tens of thousands to pay in fines and medical bills. In my opinion, unless you'll be given a bonus in the thousands for doing it, you've got nothing to gain but everything to lose in driving without a license

It's a no-brainer. If it's not on your current valid license, you can't drive it.
I would also seriously question any employer who is asking you to knowingly break the law.

Lots on the line if this setup goes bad.

Is your company demanding that you do this despite your lack of proper Swiss licensing? IMO it is completely inappropriate for a company to ask an employee to shoulder this kind of risk in order to avoid hiring a properly licensed and insured third party.

Get yourself a BE learners permit. Once you have it, you can tow the trailer.
Here the site for Fribourg. Any optician (no optometris needed) can check your eyes.

1) Download form
2) Fill in form
3) Print out form
4) Put photo on form
5) Go to optician for vision check (id is needed)
6) Go to commune for residency check
7) Go to OCN in Tafersstrasse 10, 1707 Fribourg (id is needed again) Opening Hours: Mo-Th 7-11.30 13.30-17.00 and Fr 7.30-1600
8) Get learners permit
9) Put L sticker on trailer and tow it legally.

Hurry. you have still more than three hours left, it is doable today.

to request is not to shift liability, it is to make them think about the request.

What use is a BE permit when the guy lives in Fribourg ?

B+E is car + trailer but i suspect you are taking the piss....

PS: If a trailer needs B or BE does not depend not only depend on the potential total weight (Gesamtgewicht) of the trailer.
Also possible: The total maximum weight (Gesamtzugsgewicht) of the loaded trailer plus the total maximum weight of the towing car is less than 3500kg and the maximum weight of the trailer is not heavier than the unloaded towing car (Leergewicht). Art. 3 of VZV. A best case could be your towing car has an unloaded weight of 1500kg (Item 30 in gray card) and a max weight of 2000kg (Item 33 in gray card) and your trailer has a max weight of exactly 1500kg.

Not quite sure this information matches that on the category description.

http://www.astra2.admin.ch/media/pdf...-15_2264_e.pdf

P.S. I have a 750kg trailer and this is the maximum permitted total load - the weight of the trailer (150kg), plus payload (600kg - this is recorded on the grey card).

Trailer weights are recorded as max. combined/gross weights - so 2000kg trailer probably weighs only 250ish kg but it's still a 2000kg and cannot be towed on a B.

750kg is the maximum trailer weight combination permitted with a B category.