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Overloading: how do you crack the weighbridge code.

14th March 1996, Page 58
14th March 1996
Page 58
Page 59
Page 58, 14th March 1996 — Overloading: how do you crack the weighbridge code.
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0 Ni/sesrul oe a dal ncgngi is tsitiiel l one oefiethin e the dayto-day to-day operation of vehicles. Overloading is an offence which attracts arguably the highest financial penalties for a 'motoring' offence. The haulier is therefore entitled to fairness when it comes to the weighing of his vehicles.

The Authorities recover large sums in fines annually for overloading. Overloading causes damage to roads and affects road safety. The vast majority of cases involve axle overloads—that is a bad distribution of the load. Enforcement authorities, whether it be the police, the Ministry or Trading Standards, check weigh vehicles using plate bridges, dynamic axle weighbridges and now weigh pads. To ensure fairness and accuracy, codes of practice have been drawn up in respect of dynamic axle weighbridges and plate bridges. There are no codes of practice in respect of weigh pads and this situation has been found unsatisfactory in a recent case before a Crown Court judge. You cannot tell whether or not the weighing procedure has been fairly carried out.

What are the existing codes of practice? The code in respect of the dynamic axle weighbridge can be summarised as follows: The surface of the weigh should not deviate from the straight by more than 3mm under a 3m straight edge, with the adjacent concrete apron.

The Officer should inspect the concrete apron for signs of misalignment or debris. He should ensure the cable is connected, the console is stable, check the low zero and high 16 tonne readings, leave the machine switched on for 10 minutes until the figures remain constant, re-check the low and high 16 tonne readings and make a printout. Police should then commence stopping vehicles. Officers should familiarise themselves with the manufacturer's handbook.

la Vehicles should be stopped a minimum of 16m from the weigh beam on a level approach. There could be possible errors caused by surges in the liquid load of a single compartment and unbaffled tankers which should be taken into account.

_I The operator should re-check and re-print the low and high indication, set the equipment in the dynamic mode and, where appropriate, set the directional selector switch to suit the vehicle approach. He must also press the totaliser button to ensure that any residual information in the totaliser has been cleared.

Vehicles under 3 tonnes unladen weight should be checked on the low weight mode. =.1 The enforcement officer should instruct the driver of the vehicle to drive across the weigh beam at a steady speed, not exceeding 2.5 mph. During this run, the driver must neither accelerate nor use his brake. This can normally be achieved by engaging the lowest forward gear and driving at tick over speed over the weighbridge. The vehicle is to be observed at all times during the weighing procedure to ensure that a consistent speed is maintained. In the case of a foreign driver who cannot speak English, it is desirable for him to guided by an enforcement officer walking alongside the vehicle.

If at any time during the weighing a driver accelerates above the permitted speed causing a red printout to register, or if he uses his brakes to cause a sharp deceleration, the weighing should be disregarded and the vehicle weighed again until a satisfactory weighing and an all black printout is achieved.

U At the conclusion of a satisfactory weighing with all the black printouts showing axle weights, the operator should press the appropriate button to give a summation of the axle weights. The registration number of the vehicle should then be written on the print roll adjacent to the read out. Each weighing is to be followed by a zero and high indication check which will be shown on the print roll. Following the weighing of the vehicle the prescribed certificate of weight should be issued to the driver. The recorded weights should be assessed in the light of the presumed accuracy limits, laid down in the Regulation of plus or minus 150k9 per axle with a consequent accuracy limit on gross vehicle weight of plus or minus 1 50kg multiplied by the number of axles. The print roll should be left intact for the complete day's weighing, then removed and dated and retained by the enforcement staff. There is a code of practice for conventional weighbridges brought out in 1983 as follows:

0 Weighbridges etc will be operated only by or under the supervision of a duly Authorised Officer fully conversant with the operation of the weighing equipment and with approved methods of weighing. J Weighing by the method known as 'double-weighing' will only be carried out by a Trading Standards Officer whose professional qualifications and experience will enable him to give expert evidence as to the accuracy of this weighing procedure, or by a duly Authorised Officer at sites which have been examined and approved as suitable for double-weighing by the local Trading Standards Officer, and who will if necessary be available to give expert evidence in Court.

J Normally only one authorised officer will check weigh your vehicle. J You and any passengers should remain in the vehicle during weighing as you are part of the weight transmitted to the road.

CI When requested, you should move your vehicle smoothly on to the weighbridge plate. The engine should be switched off but left in gear during weighing. When a vehicle's individual axles are being check weighed, both the hand and foot brakes should be released.

ID1 If your vehicle is too long to go on the weighing plate or is over the weight capacity of the machine, it may require two or more weighings to get a total weight for your vehicle. lj You may be required to have your axle weights checked and, in positioning your vehicle, you should carefully follow instructions given by the authorised officer. The law relating to the weighing of vehicles applies equally to all vehicles irrespective of the kind of load they carry. Drivers and operators cannot claim exemption from weight checks and the risk of subsequent prohibition through overloading because of the special or unusual nature of the load. Authorised officers carrying out checks are fully aware of the problems associated with special loads, and the following information should reassure drivers that care will be taken to safeguard vehicles and loads. Loads accepted as requiring special consideration include, for example: LI Vehicles carrying livestock. U Vehicles carrying perishables or loads which rapidly deteriorate. ID Vehicles carrying high value loads. D by Gary Hodgson

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Organisations: Crown Court
People: Gary Hodgson

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