Maximum Dimensions and Weights for Vehicles in Spain: Regulations and Key English Phrases for Business

Vehicle Regulations in Spain: Maximum Dimensions and Weights

Categories and Weights

  • N1: Up to 3500 kg
  • N2: 3500 – 12000 kg
  • N3: > 12000 kg
  • B: Up to 3500 kg
  • C1: 3500 – 7500 kg
  • C: > 7500 kg

Dimensions

  • Width:
    • Vehicles: 2.55 m
    • Superstructures: 2.60 m
    • Buses for prisoners: 2.60 m
  • Maximum Height:
    • Vehicles: 4 m
    • Buses: 4.20 m
    • Vehicle carriers, cranes: 4.50 m
  • Length:
    • Rigid vehicles: 12 m
    • Articulated vehicles: 16.50 m
    • Road trains: 18.75 m
    • Road trains for vehicle transport: 20.50 m

Axles and Weights

  • 2 Axles: 18 tons
  • 3 Axles: 25 tons (26 tons with dual wheels)
  • 4 Axles: 31 tons (32 tons with 2 steering axles)

Trailers

  • 2 Axles: 18 tons
  • 3 Axles: 24 tons

Articulated Vehicles

  • 4 Axles: 36 tons
  • 5 or more Axles: 40 tons
  • Intermodal (6 Axles): 42 tons (44 tons for certain configurations)

Road Trains

  • 4 Axles: 36 tons
  • 5 or more Axles: 40 tons

Axle Weight Limits

  • Non-motorized Axle: 10 tons
  • Motorized Axle: 11.50 tons
  • Tandem Axles:
    • Distance < 1 m: 11.50 tons
    • 1 m ≤ Distance < 1.3 m: 16 tons
    • 1.3 m ≤ Distance < 1.8 m: 18 tons

Essential Business English: Quantifiers and Key Phrases

Quantifiers

  • A lot of employees
  • How many people are there?
  • There isn’t much space.
  • We also have some lockers.
  • Are there any places available?
  • This room has a table and a few chairs.
  • To be honest, not many staff members are present.
  • It doesn’t have any windows.
  • Perhaps a little paint will help.
  • How much does it cost?
  • There’s a lot of work to do.
  • Do you have any information?
  • A few people were there.
  • Since the cafe opened, have you noticed any changes?
  • There’s some sugar left.
  • There’s only a little milk.
  • Not many people drink coffee here.
  • I have a few questions.
  • I need a little advice.
  • There aren’t many children.
  • How much time do we have?
  • Not a lot of people attended the meeting.
  • We’ve had some issues.
  • Yes, but I need to get some more.

Key Business Phrases

  • Protect and secure
  • Fool’s tricks
  • Infects and gets into
  • Looks and browses
  • Sends and redirects
  • Responds and adapts
  • Loads and installs
  • Illegally takes and steals
  • We can obtain a lot of statistics from…
  • Cross-docking is useful to sort out the goods.
  • Our carrier has not reached the retail outlets assigned.
  • This is the key objective of my investigation.
  • We want to ensure that everything works out as agreed.
  • How are you going to handle that?
  • We know how important it is to get something up and running fast.
  • They ensure a keep track of the shipment, but something went wrong.
  • There has been an implementation of changes in these facilities.
  • The changes are a big improvement for all of us.
  • In accordance with our regulations, your shipment won’t be leaving until next month.
  • In regards to delivery times, everything will remain the same.
  • We have to lay out a plan to start our new season.
  • Our procedure for handling hazardous materials is very strict.

Three-Dimensional Marketing Approach

The case of services is more complex, so relational marketing is very important when it comes to building customer loyalty, making it a long-term investment. Internal marketing refers to all communicative activities dedicated to promoting the value of the brand and identity to its employees. By combining the three types of marketing, we can create a global strategy at the company level that offers our services optimally. Traditional marketing communicates the promise, relational marketing delivers on the promise and manages the relationship, and internal marketing ensures that the promise is delivered.

Service Quality

  • Tangible elements
  • Fulfillment of the promise
  • Service attitude
  • Staff competence
  • Empathy
  • Ease of contact
  • Communication
  • Understanding customer tastes and needs

Marketing Information System (MIS)

A Marketing Information System can be defined as a structured set of relationships involving people, machines, and procedures. Its purpose is to generate an orderly flow of relevant information from internal and external sources to the company. This information serves as a basis for decision-making within specific areas of marketing responsibility.

Product Attributes and Factors

  • Core
  • Quality
  • Price
  • Packaging
  • Design, shape, and size
  • Brand, name, and graphic expressions
  • Service
  • Product image
  • Company image

Product Life Cycle

Introduction

This is the stage where the conception, definition, and experimental period of the product are established. Characteristics:

  • Low sales volume
  • High technical investment
  • Few suppliers
  • Low saturation of the potential market
  • Manufacturing processes are refined
  • New competitors may emerge

Growth

Once the initial efforts are overcome, the product can be manufactured industrially, the market opens up, and sales develop. Characteristics:

  • Rising sales
  • Reaches high percentages of its potential market
  • High prices

Maturity

Profitability is not as high as in the previous phase. Characteristics:

  • Sales grow, but at a slower pace
  • Many competitors
  • Lower sales prices
  • Lower manufacturing costs

Decline

This stage is characterized by declining profitability, although surpluses often occur due to disinvestment. The product must be renewed or discontinued.

Certificate of Professional Competence (CAP)

  • Oral/written exam
  • Annual calls
  • Consists of 100 questions
  • This training is necessary for driving on Spanish public roads for vehicles of companies established in any EU member state for which it is mandatory to hold a driving license of any of the categories.
  • Initial CAP qualification: a 280-hour ordinary course or a 140-hour accelerated course and passing an exam.
  • Continuous training: The CAP qualification card will be valid for a maximum of 5 years.

Incoterms: Cost Breakdown

General

Manufacturing cost + Packaging = Manufacturing cost for sale + Profit margin = Base price for export + Agent commission = EXW + Loading costs + Export clearance cost = FCA (seller’s premises) + Transportation cost to designated place = FCA (other place) + Handling and expenses at the terminal of origin + Main transportation = CPT + Transportation insurance cost = CIP + Unloading cost at the destination terminal = DAT + Costs at the destination terminal + Transportation cost from the terminal to the designated place = DAP + Import clearance cost = DDP (buyer’s warehouse).

Maritime

Manufacturing cost + Profit margin + Agent commission = FAS + Cost of placing goods on board the vessel at the port of shipment = FOB + Maritime transport to the designated port = CFR + Insurance premium = CIF

Driving Times

  • Continuous driving: up to 4.5 hours
  • Daily driving: 9 hours (can be extended to 10 hours twice a week)
  • Weekly driving: 56 hours
  • Biweekly driving: no more than 90 hours in two consecutive weeks
  • Daily rest: 11 hours
  • Split daily rest: 2 periods of 3 hours and 9 hours
  • Reduced daily rest: 9 hours
  • Normal weekly rest: 45 hours