Overloaded rigid and unsecured steel coils
A transport manager sends a three-axle rigid with a plated gross vehicle weight of 26,000 kg to collect two steel coils from a port. The coils weigh 9,200 kg and 8,600 kg. The plated axle limits are 7,500 kg for the front axle and 11,500 kg for each rear axle. After loading, the port weighbridge shows: front axle 8,100 kg; first rear axle 11,800 kg; second rear axle 10,900 kg; gross weight 30,800 kg. The coils are laid side by side on the flat floor, each against the headboard, with one pair of straps over each coil and no chocks. The driver says the load looks stable and the journey is only 180 km. The vehicle is due to leave in 30 minutes. The transport manager must decide whether to authorise departure, what to change, and what to record.
1. Calculate the axle and gross overloads and state the legal position.
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Legal limits: front axle 7,500 kg; each rear axle 11,500 kg; plated GVW 26,000 kg. Actual: front 8,100 kg, overload 600 kg; first rear axle 11,800 kg, overload 300 kg; second rear axle 10,900 kg, under by 600 kg; gross 30,800 kg, overload 4,800 kg. The sum of axle loads equals the gross weight, so the vehicle is both axle-overloaded and gross-overloaded. The tare is 30,800 - 17,800 = 13,000 kg; maximum payload is 26,000 - 13,000 = 13,000 kg, so at least 4,800 kg must be removed. Overloading is a strict liability offence in most national systems; the driver and operator can both be liable. A front-axle overload reduces steering grip and increases tyre and brake heat; a rear-axle overload raises the risk of tyre failure and loss of stability. The vehicle should not be authorised to leave.
2. What immediate action should be taken before departure, and how should the remaining load be positioned and secured?
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Do not depart. Remove at least 4,800 kg, for example by leaving one coil behind or by using a higher-capacity vehicle or a trailer. Re-weigh all axles after the change. If one 9,200 kg coil is carried, place it to distribute load within the plated axle limits, using chocks or a cradle; the final position must be confirmed on the weighbridge, not guessed. For steel coils, the headboard alone is not load securing. Use chocks or wedges against rolling, friction mats to raise friction, and direct lashing with rated straps or chains. The number and arrangement must be calculated to EN 12195-1 and the manufacturer's instructions; one pair of straps per coil is unlikely to be adequate for 8-9 tonnes. Protect straps from sharp edges, tension them correctly, and re-check after a short distance. Record the weighbridge tickets, photographs and load plan.
3. What are the responsibilities of the transport manager and driver, and what enforcement action and licence consequences could follow?
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The driver is responsible for refusing to drive a vehicle that is overloaded or whose load is insecure, and for checking the load before departure. The transport manager is responsible for the system: specifying the right vehicle, providing trained loading staff and equipment, planning the load, and not pressuring the driver to leave. Enforcement could include a prohibition on movement, a fixed penalty or prosecution, and notification to the licensing authority. For the operator, an overload and insecure load are serious repute issues; the authority can call the operator to a public inquiry and curtail, suspend or revoke the licence. The company should investigate, retrain, record the corrective action and notify its insurer. The 180 km distance is irrelevant to the legal limit; the risk exists from the first kilometre.