LA declares war on overloading
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• The Northern LA, Mr. John Hanlon, on July 26 declared war on overloading of goods vehicles. He said 26 cases had been reported in one month, and threatened that a High Court injunction could be sought to stop it and, if necessary, close the works responsible.
Mr. Hanlon was speaking at a public inquiry in Newcastle upon Tyne into an application by William Brunskill and Son (Transport) Ltd., of Hartlepool, for renewal of a limited B carriers' licence in respect of nine vehicles.
Mr. T. Campbell Wardlaw, for the firm, said it has been convicted four times in the past two years for axle overloading. Mr. Hanlon emphasized that his remarks did not apply to the firm.
Mr. Wardlaw told the LA that the loads in respect of which the last convictions had been made were collected from the South Durham Steel and Iron Company at Hartlepool, where there was no provision at the time for separate axle weighing.
Mr. Hanlon commented: "There are portable machines which can be obtained to weigh axles separately. If we find that some works are sending out vehicles with improper loads, then we shall prosecute them till they stop.
"If they go on in this way, and the penalties are so trivial, then application will have to be made to the Attorney-General for an injunction.
"I get cases of overloading from all over the area and all the time we get the excuse that they did not know what weights were on the axles. We are going to make sure that people conform to the law one way or another. Overloading cases are getting worse and I shall have to take some severe action."
Mr. William Brunskill, managing director of the firm, said that in his case everything in his power was done to keep things straight by the law. He added: "Unfortunately we are in the hands of the drivers although they are constantly reminded to check their weights before their journeys. I am negotiating with the South Durham Steel and Iron Company for facilities to be provided for axle weighing at their works."
The application was granted.