Sender liable for overloads in Ireland
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by Patric Curmane • Consignors viill be held responsible for overloaded vehicles in Ireland and could face prison or fines of £1000 under new laws announced by Irish Transport Minister Emmett Stagg and due to take effect later this year.
Police will have power to detain overloaded vehicles until a summons is served, normally within 24 hours. Foreign trucks will be included in the laws and consignors will not be compensated for loads that are late or spoiled by delay in delivery.
Stagg says the new laws, which were announced last year, are being introduced with the co-operation of the Irish hauliers and are designed to protect vulnerable operators, particularly owner-drivers, from unscrupulous consignors.
"Trucks from Northern Ireland are a big problem because they don't have to comply with our laws," he adds.
Trucks detained under the new legislation will be taken to a secure compound and not released until a fine is paid.