Vosa: keep foreign trucks compliant VOSA ISN'T doing enough to
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
make foreign trucks comply with English law: no foreign vehicles entering the UK are weighed.
Overseas operators are running 4x2 tractor units again. They started bringing over 6x2s but, as they're not being weighed, they've all gone back to 4x2 tractor units. They will have 26 pallets on them, weigh 26 tonnes and are on five axles — and they're all overloaded.
I'd like CM to ask ferry firms why they weigh them when they leave the country, but not when they come in? I imagine it's because if they weigh them at one port, then operators will go to another instead. So it needs all the ports to introduce weighing trucks on entry as standard.
The government needs to ensure the roads are safe for everyone, and having a high volume of overweight foreign trucks isn't safe.
Instead of the government cutting back on Vosa's spending, it should be giving Vosa more money. Or, instead of £200 fixed penalties for overloading, the fines should be £3,000. Vosa and the government have a duty of care to ensure foreign trucks on UK roads comply with British law.
Jim Dodd Ex-haulage boss Editor's comment: "We're on the case."
Please include your full name, position, address and contact number Letters published in the magazine may also appear on the website (wmv. commercialmotorcom). Although we do not publish anonymous letters, names can be withheld for publication. CM reserves the right to edit letters.