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Haulage operator and driver fined for dangerous overloading
Date: 01 October 2007
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A haulier and driver have been fined after overloading a truck by a huge amount.
Haulier Colin Paddington and driver Nigel Thelwell of Whitchurch had overloaded a truck by around 64 per cent - amounting to more than 1,400 kilograms, the Shropshire Star reports.
After initially being charged with overloading, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) upgraded the charge against them to driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition before the case was heard in Solihull.
"The vehicle was stopped off the A46 at Birmingham after the heavy load of furniture was causing the vehicle to sway from side to side and the tyres to deflate," VOSA prosecutor Dominic Green said. "In this case the situation was dangerous."
Mr Paddington was fined £1,200 with £148 costs, and Mr Thelwell was fined £1,000 with £115 costs, after magistrates were told the overloading could lead to braking and steering problems.
Recently VOSA said it would be increasing its checks on freight haulage vehicles on international journeys, in order to clamp down on overloading and other safety issues.
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