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Weight problems
Iwonder if any of your CM readers have suffered the same experience as our firm.
On 27 November 1995 one of our vehicles was check weighed at a DOT weighbridge and was found to exceed the gross plated weight of the tractor unit by 1,470kg, even though the gross weight of the vehicle was 37,680kg and did not exceed the legal 38,000kg limit.
Fernwood Transport pleaded guilty to the offence but pleaded mitigating circumstances stating that detecting an overloaded axle is extremely difficult when the majority of UK weighbridges only weigh gross vehicle weight.
Fernwood was fined £500 for the offence and the magistrate suggested that on-board trailer weighers should
be fitted to our trailers. These weighers only weigh gross vehicle weight and not individual axle weights, therefore the problem would not be solved. Fernwood Transport is concerned that the magistrates had not properly understood the mitigating circumstances put to them.
Does the haulage industry, the RI-IA or Commercial Motor have any views on overloaded axles and the possible defences that can be raised? In Fernwood's view an overloaded axle is difficult to detect, cannot be defended and often results in a severe fine.
Such a scenario gives hauliers an extremely difficult and expensive situation to deal with.
CE Holehouse Corporate development manager Fernwood Transporf