Overloaded by 62%
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• A 62% overload led to Abery st w yt h-based John and Karen Walsh appearing at disciplinary proceedings before South Wales Deputy Traffic Commissioner Gerrard Sullivan.
John Walsh said that the vehicle concerned had been a 7.5-tonne flat. He could not offer any explanation for the overload, it had just been a "terrible, terrible, mistake". The vehicle was a former Welsh Breweries vehicle that had been "stretched' and plated to 7.5 tonnes gross. It had the capacity to cope with the load, the engine and braking system having a capacity of 16 tonnes.
Sullivan said the vehicle must have looked overloaded, and the fine of .C1,940 was revealing. He said it was the firm's second conviction for overloading.
Walsh said that they now had a 16-tonne vehicle with a hoist, and had taken two 7.5-tonne vehicles off the road. They were aiming for BS5750.
"1 realise that in a small community, we are being watched and draw the attention of the police," said Walsh. "We are on probation."
Taking no action other than to issue a formal warning, Sullivan told the firm that they could not relax. "In a small community, they are watching you," he said.