Overloading margin
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ises to 10%
• The Vehicle Inspectorate has told its examiners to stop prosecuting hauliers for overloading unless a truck is more than 10% or one tonne above its permitted weight. The previous tolerance was 5%.
And a new scheme by the Inspectorate could also allow drivers who suspect they are over their limit after loading to make an appointment to be check-weighed at a Department of Transport weighbridge. A major complaint by hauliers fined for being overweight is that their drivers were unable to find a site open to weigh their vehicles.
'fhe move to a 10% margin is designed to reduce the number of "trivial' prosecutions, and enable magistrates to take tougher action against operators who overload substantially.
The VI says that examiners will retain the discretion to prosecute if an overload is under 10% — but in these cases a "full justification" will be needed.
The Association of Chief Police Officers is understood to be backing the move. However, hauliers could still be prosecuted for overloads of below 10% — depending on who stops them.
But the VI may find it hard to convince Trading Standards chiefs to adopt the guidelines.
Local authorities are empowered to bring prosecutions for any overload which they consider "serious" — and they differ in the benchmarks they set for taking action.
Trading Standards representatives will meet the VI and the Dip tomorrow (18 Sept) to discuss the moves, but Jim Humble, chief executive of Trading Standards co-ordinating body Lacots says that many of his members would be "alarmed that the Government could become more lenient" with overloading.
"Local authorities view any overloading as a breach of the law," he says.
The Road Haulage Associa tion wants responsibility for weighing trucks to be switched to central Government and it is unhappy with the local authorities' stance.
"Trading Standards have got to get in step," says director of operations Tim Inman.
The move to open DTp weighbridges for check-weighing is still at discussion stage. The VI says: "If operators are prepared to come to weighbridge sites we would try to assist, although an advance call would be beneficial."
Inman, who has been pressing for more weighbridges to be available to hauliers, says that the move is part of a "more relaxed attitude from the VI since its move from the control of Marsham Street. They are leaning more towards prevention of overloading rather than enforcements," he says.