LCVs

Since its launch in 2008, VanWeigh has aimed at addressing the rising industry concerns regarding overloading of vans and light commercials and the increasing demands from across the transport industry for a simple device to improve operating efficiency and safety, not to mention helping owners and drivers to avoid the fines that conviction for overloading can attract.

The Vehicle Operator and Services Agency (VOSA) is striving to identify offenders more efficiently – the VOSA Effectiveness Report (2006/7) states that of 6050 vans weighed throughout the year, 3335 (55.1%) were prohibited for being overloaded. This compares with 38.7% and 30.5% for the previous two years, respectively.

Moves by VOSA also coincide with ongoing structural changes in the market, with many downsizing for operational reasons from 7.5t to 3.5t. Drivers are not always advised that such a change comes with a significant downsizing in payload weight capacity.

The VanWeigh overload protection system makes a positive contribution to safer driving, improving fuel economy and reducing vehicle wear and tear. Fitting VanWeigh also allows organisations to complete their ‘duty of care’ in line with risk assessments enforced by the Health and Safety at Work Act.