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Weighbridges urgently wanted
Page 29
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• The shortage of weighbridges suitable for commercial vehicles, especially in cities and towns, is the subject of an urgent warning given by the RHA and TRTA in a memorandum which will be considered next Thursday at a meeting with representatives of the Association of Muinicipal,Corpora tions, the County Councils' Association and the Urban District Councils' Associations.
The memorandum points out also that with very few exceptions vehicles are loaded in circumstances where there is no accurate method of weighing the load and that "even agricultural produce in sacks is usually based on an estimate of the weight".
Under the new plating regulations there is a maximum fine of £200 for the use of an overloaded vehicle. In addition the driver may have his licence endorsed and the offence may be taken into account when the operator applies for a new licence or when a transport manager seeks a licence under the provisions of the Transport Act 1968. "It is clear from this," says the memorandum, "that it is a serious offence to exceed weight limits on vehicles or axles: It becomes im perative therefore that there should he a reasonable number of weighbridges avail able throughout the country to which a commercial vehicle driver has ready access."
It is suggested that weighbridge platforms should be large enough to take vehicles up to 8ft 2+in. wide and up to 5011 long and that the weighbridge should be able to cope with a maximum load of 50 tons.
The memorandum criticizes the practice of closing weighbridges at between 4.30 and 5 p.m. on weekdays and suggests that in every town some weighbridges should re main available for a longer period. Also it is hoped that local authority organizations will be able to agree a• reasonable standard charge for weighing commercial vehicles and a standard form of weight ticket which would give the axle weights and the gross weight. Consideration should also be given, says the memorandum, to the provision or coin-operated weighbridges which could he made available for long periods each day.
On this latter point discussions have taken place between the operators' associa dons and the National Federation of Scale and Weighing Machine Manufacturers who have said that coin operation would involve the re-equipment of most existing weighbridges or the provision of new weighbridges. The Federation has agreed to look into the matter and also to consider the possibility of a suitable weighing machine which would be incorporated as an integral part of a commercial vehicle and the provision of a cheap and portable method c-,1 weighing vehicle axles with a margin or error of one per cent either way.