Vehicle Overloading Explained
Exceeding a vehicle’s maximum permissible weight
is not only a danger to the driver and other road
users; it is an illegal offence which carries with it a
range of risks and penalties, from fixed fines to
prison sentences.
With prohibition notices on the increase, we explore the
issue of overloading and how to avoid it.
Overloading: A false economy
For any business, maximising efficiency is key to
reducing operating costs and improving profit margins.
When transporting goods, the temptation to overload a Above: Axle weighers can be used to ensure compliance
vehicle in a bid to maximise payload and reduce overall
fuel costs can be a costly mistake.
Invalid insurance: The act of overloading a vehicle is
Fines and court action: illegal and can potentially invalidate any insurance cover
During August 2013, The Department for Transport – leaving you with a costly bill if the vehicle is involved in
announced that fixed penalty notices for offences against a crash.
roadworthiness, loading and drivers’ hours rules will
result in higher penalties at the roadside. For overloading Loss of licence: Whilst most offences are dealt with
in particular, the fines are as follows: using a Fixed Penalty Notice, overloading convictions
can affect the decision of the Traffic Commissioner to
Exceeded by Fixed Penalty Fine suspend, revoke or renew both a driver's and/or an
0 – 9.99% £100 operator’s licence.
10% - 14.99% £200
15% and over £300 Increased likelihood of accidents: Overloaded
Serious overloading, 30% Court summons vehicles are harder to control and more unstable and
and over – or loads that more difficult to stop in an emergency. Drivers and
may have a significant effect operators alike should be aware of the possibility of
on road safety prosecutions for Dangerous Driving, Health and Safety
offences and Corporate Manslaughter.
Further implications:
Damage to roads: Overloaded goods vehicles damage
our roads, bridges and underground services producing
Increased running costs: Overloading vehicles a massive reduction in predicted road life expectancy
significantly increases fuel consumption. Tyres are more and dramatically increasing maintenance costs.
prone to wear, steering becomes more difficult to control
and vehicles take longer to react to braking. This can How are overloads detected?
dramatically affect vehicle handling, increase daily wear
and tear and increase the likelihood of a costly – and
potentially fatal - accident. Increased prohibition, the role of technology: Figures
published in the latest Vehicle and Operator Services
Downtime: The number of overloaded vehicles being Agency (VOSA) Report serve as a warning to fleet
stopped and checked is on the increase. If a fixed operators that there is a greater risk of overloaded
penalty notice is issued, the examiner will also prohibit vehicles being detected on UK roads.
the driving of the vehicle on a road. Not only does this
take your vehicles off the road, but those found to be The prohibition rate in 2011/12 was 71% - an increase on
overloaded must reduce their load before being allowed 69.5% in 2010/11. In fact, a report published by VOSA in
to continue – a move which would require another 2013 highlighted that 93% of LGV vans were found to be
vehicle to be dispatched to share the load. overloaded.
This guide is designed purely to provide an overview of overloading only.
If in doubt about what this means for you and your business, speak to one of our sales managers or visit the VOSA/DVSA website.
Ensure even distribution of loads: The risks of
overloading on gross vehicle weight are well-known,
while the importance of axle weights is often overlooked.
In some instances the gross vehicle weight is not
exceeded, but the load may still exceed the maximum
permissible axle weight. Uneven loading of a vehicle
makes it far harder to handle, putting undue pressure on
tyres, steering and braking.
Check vehicle/axle weight before setting out: It is
important to remember that the GVW is the weight of the
vehicle plus overall load; taking into account weight of
goods, driver, passengers and fuel, for example. Treat
weight declarations on invoices and delivery notes with
some caution, they may be "guesstimates" only. The only
way to ensure that the vehicle’s maximum permissible
VOSA has been investing in technology to pinpoint non-
weights are not exceeded is to weigh it – either using a
compliant vehicles much more precisely. VOSA uses a
weighbridge or an axle weigher.
combination of high-speed in-motion weighing, automatic
number plate recognition and the Operator Compliance Portable, static axle weighers provide a solution for spot
Risk Score (OCRS) system to decide which vehicles checking, while dynamic fixed or portable solutions can
should be inspected. weigh in motion, speeding up the process and providing
a solution for those with larger and mixed fleets.
What is the OCRS? OCRS is a scoring system used to
calculate the risk of an operator not following guidelines. Familiarisation: If you haven’t already, familiarise
Scores are based on data such as vehicle tests and yourself with your obligations under the Health and
inspections at premises, which have been collected by Safety at Work Act, the Road Traffic Act, the Road
VOSA over a 3-year rolling period. Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations and the
Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations. All of
By cross-referencing an operator’s OCRS with
these documents are available online or by contacting
information captured when an overloaded vehicle is
Her Majesty’s Stationary Offices (HMSO).
detected via an ANPR camera, specific operators can be
targeted more effectively for roadside checks – one
reason for the increase in prohibition rate.
In conclusion
A Criminal Offence: Who is Business owners, transport managers and drivers all
responsible? need to be aware of the risks of overloading and the
penalties that can result. The potential cost of having an
operator licence revoked is far greater than any relatively
Legislation relating to overloading – including the Health minimal savings that might be made by avoiding
and Safety at Work Act, the Road Traffic Act and the weighing a vehicle.
Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations – put
the onus on both the driver of the vehicle and the Investment in vehicle weighing technology, such as
operator. Furthermore, anyone else who “causes or Weigh In Motion axle weighing equipment, makes sound
permits” overloading is also committing an offence. The financial sense as well as being important for protecting
Road Traffic Act in particular highlights the fact that the drivers and other road users.
driver can be prosecuted for dangerous driving – a
conviction which carries a maximum sentence of two Further information
years in jail.
How to avoid overloading: For more information on our axle weighing solutions,
or to read some customer case studies, visit
www.averyweigh-tronix.com/axle-weighing
Know your vehicle’s weight limits: Drivers should refer For information, advice or to see if you qualify for a no
to their vehicle’s identification plate, which is usually obligation audit of your company’s vehicle weighing
located in the cabin, under the bonnet or on the chassis. requirements, please contact us or call us on
The plate usually shows a manufacturer and serial 0845 307 0314.
number, but also shows details of maximum permissible Visit the DVSA website (previously VOSA)
axle weight and maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight (GVW).
