When most fleet managers or tradespeople are looking for a new van, payload often rules supreme, or at least trumps countless other priorities, from smaller factors like trim to massive considerations like engine size. After all, the ability to carry as much as possible can lower the number of trips needed to do a job, saving money in the process.
However, this mindset can lead to a number of potential dangers – and each one comes with risks to drivers, managers, other road users, as well as the vehicle itself. What’s more, financial penalties are strictly enforced for breaking long-established rules. Most of this comes down to the surprisingly popular practice of overloading a van – something that’s as dangerous as it can be costly.
So, what should you bear in mind to ensure you’re doing everything above board? Here’s the Motus Commercials guide to loading your van safely.
The immediate consequences of overloading a vehicle
Firstly, it’s important to know the dangers of overloading your vehicle – or even loading it poorly, distributing weight inefficiently.
- Steering, stability and braking distances all suffer – and even in the best weather, this could result in a fatal accident.
- Greater fuel consumption and increased strain on tyres – raising running costs significantly, and risking tyre blow-outs.
- Your insurance will be invalidated – meaning you’ll have no chance to recover losses in the event of an accident.
Key rules to avoid overloading
Check the gross vehicle weight (GVW) before setting off, either using your own weighbridge, or one nearby. You are allowed to drive to the nearest available weighbridge to check your load and then go to a place where they can take off some of the load if the vehicle is overloaded.
- Your GVW needs to include the weight of the vehicle, load, driver, and passengers (as well as trailer for gross train weight, or GTW). Don’t forget to include pallets and/or packaging, as well as any aftermarket fittings you’ve attached to your vehicle.
- Don’t simply trust declared weights from pick-ups; customer invoices might not be accurate, and the blame will lie on you if your van’s overloaded.
- When you’re dropping things off, make sure your load is redistributed to avoid overloading one or more axles.
- If in doubt, get your van weighed. A lot of builder’s merchants offer weighbridges; if you’re a fleet manager, it’s a necessity for your operations. According to VOSA, most public weighbridges are open between 8:00am and 4:00pm on weekdays, and between 8:00am and midday on Saturdays.
- Remember to consult your weight plate. You’ll usually find this in the engine bay, or the driver’s door sill, and it’s broken down into four numbers:
- Gross vehicle weight;
- Gross train weight;
- Maximum first axle weight; and
- Maximum second axle weight.
Penalties for overloading and overhanging loads
Alongside the aforementioned invalidation of insurance, you’ll be hit with a £100 penalty if VOSA judges your vehicle to be overweight by up to 10%; however, examiners will give you a 5% “tolerance” if the weight is under one tonne. The fine will jump to £200 from 10%-15%, and £300 for 15%-30%. Court action follows anything above and beyond that, and you’ll be judged by the severity of each case.
As for long items – logs, pipes, etc – these can overhang by up to one metre at the rear of a truck without signs or markers. It’s nonetheless recommended that you attach high-visibility cloth. If it’s one to two metres, this is mandatory; between two metres and 3.05 metres needs a special marker, and anything over this needs attendants and prior notice to the police. Remember: overhang penalties are much worse, as you’ll get three points and a £100 fine if you don’t follow guidelines.
