Kelmark Scaffolding truck was 50% overloaded

A Birmingham firm's truck was found to be carrying so much scaffolding that a charge of overloading was changed to a charge of operating a vehicle in a dangerous condition. The truck, run by Kelmark Scaffolding of Mary Vale Business Park, was overloaded by 3,820kg an overload of more than 50%. Solihull magistrates fined the company £2,000 with £148 costs after it pleaded guilty by letter.

Driver Andrew Gloster was fined £300 with £148 costs and his licence was endorsed with three penalty points after he admitted allowing the truck to be overloaded. Dominic Green, prosecuting for Vosa, said the overload was discovered during a routine check at Quinton, near Birmingham. "The original charge had been one of overloading but it was changed because the excessive overload had made the truck dangerous," he told the court.

"The 50%-plus overload meant the braking system and steering could not have been relied upon and the stopping distance would have been drastically affected, not to mention the condition of the tyres." Gloster had denied being aware of the overload but Green said he should have checked the vehicle before driving it. He added that the firm had previous prohibitions for overloading.