The Tholos system can store 45 days of data to allow business van managers to analyse their van fleet usage.
It will also display if a van is underweight but incorrectly loaded, which would affect van road holding and tyre wear.
Tholos first showed the system at this year’s CV Show 2013 at the NEC.
Vehicle overloading is covered by three areas of law, covering both business van operator and business van driver, according to VOSA.
These are:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1999 – all companies have a duty of care to their employees which includes their safety. Ensuring a van is not overweight is part of this duty of care
- The Road Traffic Act 1988 – this requires that van operator and driver be responsible for ensuring that the van is not overloaded. Fines go up to a maximum of £5000 for the worst offences.
- The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 – this states that loads must not represent a danger to any person in the vehicle
Fixed penalty fines can also be applied for van overloading – see table below.
What are the fixed penalty fines for overloading?
| Vehicle overweight by | Penalty |
| 5% to 10% | £60 |
| 10% to 15% | £120 |
| 15% to 30% | £200 |
| More than 30% | Court summons |
Source: VOSA
You should also read this on safe van loading in our Van Law – Weights section.
Also click here to read the editor’s view in the BV Blog section The fine that led to a new idea.
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