A reminder about lorry weights
If you’re responsible for driving horseboxes at work, please be aware of permitted lorry weights.
It is important to understand that both a driver and their employer can be prosecuted, and fines imposed for each offence of exceeding an individual axle weight or the maximum permitted gross weight of the vehicle.
Police officers and DVSA officials have the power to issue graduated fixed penalties for overloading offences – and the responsibility for paying the fixed penalty rests with the driver.
Please note that employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment, so allowing a driver to operate an overweight vehicle could be violating health and safety at work. It’s important to raise any concerns you have about the condition of a lorry or lorry weights with your employer.
When working out the weight being carried, fuel must be included. Note that 1 litre of fuel weighs 1kg, so a full fuel tank can add quite a bit of weight to that already being carried.
Aside from potential penalties, the handling of an overweight lorry may be affected and stopping distances impacted.
VOSA guidance with links to lorry weight information can be found here https://www.gov.uk/
