Liquid tanker,loaded with no weighbridge to confirm weight. Paperwork is all correct with the amount of capacity to be filled…on destination the weighbridge is telling me I’m overweight…What’s the law if involved in a accident…its happening quite often.
Maybe you shouldnt be driving trucks if youre having lots of accidents!
Joking
How much overweight ? Tanks are pretty hard to get a steady weight due to the product slapping about , can depend on the weighbridge as well.
A few KGs ( up to 500 ) its easily explained away by differences in weighbridges , filling with fuel etc
More than that then theres a problem somewhere . Last I heard it was £1000 / ton or part over loaded - ie 950kgs over = £1000 , 1200 kgs over £2000 fine .
gazmac:
Liquid tanker,loaded with no weighbridge to confirm weight. Paperwork is all correct with the amount of capacity to be filled…on destination the weighbridge is telling me I’m overweight…What’s the law if involved in a accident…its happening quite often.
Clearly
gazmac:
Paperwork is all correct
Isn`t true: they are telling you load an illegal amount.
Happening regularly? Same job?
If the amount (litres) youre told to load, weighs too much, then dont load it all!
I assume your office is informed when this happens?
They should know better by now. Be sure to inform them by e-mail/text/writing etc. Be sure they understand they are in the muck cart too.
After loading you can legally move to nearest weigh-bridge. If over weight, go back and offload excess.
Warn your office and client that because you have previously been overweight you will be doing this.
They may then re-do their loading calculations and magically come up with a new answer to how much to load!
At the end of the day, you are liable for a fine, and if too heavy it is your licence at risk.
gazmac:
Liquid tanker,loaded with no weighbridge to confirm weight. Paperwork is all correct with the amount of capacity to be filled…on destination the weighbridge is telling me I’m overweight…What’s the law if involved in a accident…its happening quite often.
Hi gazmac,
Carrying on from Franglais’ very good advice above…
Due to liquids being of considerably different weights per liter, we calculate the weight of a liquid tanker load by reference to the weight of water.
1L of water weighs 1Kg, so then the substance to be carried is either…
Lighter than water, or
The same weight as water, or
Heavier than water.
Some examples (round figures):
25,000L of Propane weighs 12,800Kg (1L of Propane weighs 0.5Kg, Water = 1.0) [Propane is lighter than water]
25,000L of Water weighs 25,000Kg (Water = 1.0 compared to water) [Water is the same weight as Water!]
25,000L of Bromine weighs 78,000Kg (1L of Bromine weighs 3Kg, Water = 1.0) [Bromine is heavier than water]
Depending on the substance you carry, I might be able to tell you the weight of it if you tell us what it is and how much of it you carry.
How much overweight are you on the delivery customer’s weighbridge?
beefy4605:
How much overweight ? Tanks are pretty hard to get a steady weight due to the product slapping about , can depend on the weighbridge as well.
A few KGs ( up to 500 ) its easily explained away by differences in weighbridges , filling with fuel etc
More than that then theres a problem somewhere . Last I heard it was £1000 / ton or part over loaded - ie 950kgs over = £1000 , 1200 kgs over £2000 fine .
Overweight fines are based on the percentage overweight. Latest DVSA website says fixed penalty 0-10% £100, 10-15% £200, 15% and above £300, but serious overweight would result in a court summons instead.
As a driver, if you believe the vehicle may be overloaded, you are entitled to drive to the nearest publicly-available weighbridge. If at that point you find you are overloaded, you as the driver are in the clear, as long as you don’t continue the journey.
You need to tell your operator they’re taking unacceptable risks. Put everything in writing (text, email, What’s App etc), that way you’re covering your ■■■■, which should be every driver’s top priority
Zac_A:
As a driver, if you believe the vehicle may be overloaded, you are entitled to drive to the nearest publicly-available weighbridge. If at that point you find you are overloaded, you as the driver are in the clear, as long as you don’t continue the journey.You need to tell your operator they’re taking unacceptable risks. Put everything in writing (text, email, What’s App etc), that way you’re covering your ■■■■, which should be every driver’s top priority
What can you do if there’s no opportunity to offload at the Weighbridge? Can’t you go back to where you started from?
stu675:
Zac_A:
As a driver, if you believe the vehicle may be overloaded, you are entitled to drive to the nearest publicly-available weighbridge. If at that point you find you are overloaded, you as the driver are in the clear, as long as you don’t continue the journey.You need to tell your operator they’re taking unacceptable risks. Put everything in writing (text, email, What’s App etc), that way you’re covering your ■■■■, which should be every driver’s top priority
What can you do if there’s no opportunity to offload at the Weighbridge? Can’t you go back to where you started from?
No, that’s just doubling the offence 
It’s not the driver’s problem. it’s up to the operator to deal with that, it’s their fault for not having systems in place to stop it happening.
Zac_A:
stu675:
What can you do if there’s no opportunity to offload at the Weighbridge? Can’t you go back to where you started from?No, that’s just doubling the offence
I’m willing to be corrected here but I believe that if you take a vehicle to the nearest weighbridge for a check weigh and it is overweight, then you are permitted to return to the loading point to have the load adjusted.
EDIT, yes.
“Check the Gross Vehicle Weight before setting
out, either using your own weighbridge, or one
nearby. You are allowed to drive to the nearest
available weighbridge to check your load and then
go to a place where they can take off some of the
load if the vehicle is overloaded.”
Zac_A:
As a driver, if you believe the vehicle may be overloaded, you are entitled to drive to the nearest publicly-available weighbridge. If at that point you find you are overloaded,
Ok so far, but after that… 
If a vehicle is found to be overloaded at the nearest publicly available weighbridge and then returns to the original loading point to have the excess weight removed… then the driver is in the clear on the outward and return journey to the nearest publicly available weighbridge.
An overloaded vehicle is an absolute offence, but the above is a known statutory defence to the charge.
Back to scenario in question… The consignor really ought to know the SG of the liquid to be carried, and the driver should be aware of the weight that the vehicle can carry.
dieseldave:
Zac_A:
As a driver, if you believe the vehicle may be overloaded, you are entitled to drive to the nearest publicly-available weighbridge. If at that point you find you are overloaded,Ok so far, but after that…
If a vehicle is found to be overloaded at the nearest publicly available weighbridge and then returns to the original loading point to have the excess weight removed… then the driver is in the clear on the outward and return journey to the nearest publicly available weighbridge.
An overloaded vehicle is an absolute offence, but the above is a known statutory defence to the charge.
Back to scenario in question… The consignor really ought to know the SG of the liquid to be carried, and the driver should be aware of the weight that the vehicle can carry.
SG Specific Gravity. What are you carrying in the tanker and how many litres, then diesel dave will tell you how much it weighs.
shullbit:
dieseldave:
Zac_A:
As a driver, if you believe the vehicle may be overloaded, you are entitled to drive to the nearest publicly-available weighbridge. If at that point you find you are overloaded,Ok so far, but after that…
If a vehicle is found to be overloaded at the nearest publicly available weighbridge and then returns to the original loading point to have the excess weight removed… then the driver is in the clear on the outward and return journey to the nearest publicly available weighbridge.
An overloaded vehicle is an absolute offence, but the above is a known statutory defence to the charge.
Back to scenario in question… The consignor really ought to know the SG of the liquid to be carried, and the driver should be aware of the weight that the vehicle can carry.
SG Specific Gravity. What are you carrying in the tanker and how many litres, then diesel dave will tell you how much it weighs.
Yes, but so also should the shipper.
It is their gear after all.
And more than all of the above the company giving instructions to load x litres should be aware of the weight.
None of which is much defense for any driver repeatedly running overweight.
gazmac:
its happening quite often
I hope the OP takes notice for his own good.
Not easy to speak up if inexperienced, but end of day, the driver is captain of the ship.
Looks to me like the consignor is getting free carriage for the excess - once or twice maybe but regularly overloaded - somethings not right.
Franglais:
shullbit:
dieseldave:
Zac_A:
As a driver, if you believe the vehicle may be overloaded, you are entitled to drive to the nearest publicly-available weighbridge. If at that point you find you are overloaded,Ok so far, but after that…
If a vehicle is found to be overloaded at the nearest publicly available weighbridge and then returns to the original loading point to have the excess weight removed… then the driver is in the clear on the outward and return journey to the nearest publicly available weighbridge.
An overloaded vehicle is an absolute offence, but the above is a known statutory defence to the charge.
Back to scenario in question… The consignor really ought to know the SG of the liquid to be carried, and the driver should be aware of the weight that the vehicle can carry.
SG Specific Gravity. What are you carrying in the tanker and how many litres, then diesel dave will tell you how much it weighs.
Yes, but so also should the shipper.
It is their gear after all.
And more than all of the above the company giving instructions to load x litres should be aware of the weight.None of which is much defense for any driver repeatedly running overweight.
gazmac:
its happening quite oftenI hope the OP takes notice for his own good.
Not easy to speak up if inexperienced, but end of day, the driver is captain of the ship.
But if the driver educates himself with the facts about specific gravity etc, then he has something to go to war with.
Socketset:
Looks to me like the consignor is getting free carriage for the excess - once or twice maybe but regularly overloaded - somethings not right.
Either
The consignor is loading more than specified by the carrier per load, hence, yes, an advantage to him.
Or
The transport co, if paid per kg or per litre, and getting a bit more for each load transported, which they may figure is an advantage.
Where the advantage lies depends on the charging model.
From my time on tanks, it was normally by wt/volume, not by load. The haulier would want the max possible to get the most per load. (Ullage travels free.) The advantage to overload in that case lies with the haulier.
Since you said its happening more often have a word with your office. They are pulling a fast one on you.
shullbit:
But if the driver educates himself with the facts about specific gravity etc, then he has something to go to war with.
Your point is understood, but why complicate things?
If he has records of weights then what else does he need?
The OP has said he has been overweight on more than one occasion, that is enough to know in my book.
Don`t give anyone the chance to twist things around.
Harry Monk:
Zac_A:
stu675:
What can you do if there’s no opportunity to offload at the Weighbridge? Can’t you go back to where you started from?No, that’s just doubling the offence
I’m willing to be corrected here but I believe that if you take a vehicle to the nearest weighbridge for a check weigh and it is overweight, then you are permitted to return to the loading point to have the load adjusted.
EDIT, yes.
“Check the Gross Vehicle Weight before setting
out, either using your own weighbridge, or one
nearby. You are allowed to drive to the nearest
available weighbridge to check your load and then
go to a place where they can take off some of the
load if the vehicle is overloaded.”
I’m quite happy to have any misunderstandings of mine corrected, but I think for 100% certainty we really need something more up to date than VOSA guidance from 2012, their successor DVSA may potentially have different ideas.
Wel the obvious one is that they’ve got the unladen weight down incorrectly on the computer.