Overload company blameless
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Fradley, LichfieldI*1 based Palletways (UK) and one of its drivers have been given an absolute discharge after the local magistrates heard that a second axle overload was not their fault.
The company, which is involved in groupage, and driver Stephen Gallear had pleaded guilty to overloading the second axle of a 13.5-tonner by 874kg (9.55%).
Defending, Andrew Gilmour said the company often had more than 3,000 pallets passing through its premises in a day. Because of the high volume and time constraints the company sometimes had to take a member's word for the weight of the pallets—it was not practical to weigh every single load that went out Palletways had accepted a load from George Walker Transport, a member in Leeds, on behalf of Booker UK. When the overload was investigated George Walker had said that the original consignment was booked in as one pallet. In fact there were two pallets and the traffic office staff had not adjusted the weight of the consignment.
Palletways took a very serious view of this situation, Gilmour told the court.
The firm had been in business for five years and had never been convicted of overloading, he added. The computer system had since been changed; it now check-weighed pallets and had disposed of its older vehicles, replacing them with six new Volvos which were better for the job. Putting these measures into effect had cost the company 2260,000.
Asking the magistrates to consider giving both the company and its driver an absolute discharge, Gilmour said they had been more sinned against than sinning. They had relied on the information given to them at face value and had been badly let down.
The company and Gallear were each ordered to pay 285 in costs.