Weight tolerances query

[Al n Val]

hi everyone

when I had my Rapido tag weighed earlier this year the weigh bridge operator knocked me for six when we were told we weighed in at 5380kgs .

We were carrying approx 150kgs of water and i’d say full tank of diesel.

Now i’m being told (by a mate) that having 3axels there is a tolerance of 150kg per axel so my 5000kg weight can actually be up to 5450kg without being overweight and penalised.

Does anyone know if this is true or not as if it is it will save me £3500

Al

 

[poppycamper]

hi everyone

when I had my Rapido tag weighed earlier this year the weigh bridge operator knocked me for six when we were told we weighed in at 5380kgs .

We were carrying approx 150kgs of water and i’d say full tank of diesel.

Now i’m being told (by a mate) that having 3axels there is a tolerance of 150kg per axel so my 5000kg weight can actually be up to 5450kg without being overweight and penalised.

Does anyone know if this is true or not as if it is it will save me £3500

Al

If I am Reading this right, that means a 3500kg two axle van is really 3800kg???
Does not seem right to me...

 

[Speve]

If I am Reading this right, that means a 3500kg two axle van is really 3800kg???
Does not seem right to me...

He has a tag axle if you read the OP so he’s saying he has give of 5000Kg

 

[Carpmart]

It’s a binary offence Al. You are either under weight or overweight based on plate and DVLA records.

The punishment can vary. Sometimes tolerances are allowed, but the offence is binary!

 

[Speve]

Does anyone know if this is true or not as if it is it will save me £3500

I am not able to confirm allowance but I would not be inclined to risk that much over as if stopped in the EU they may not have any tollerance and then you will be in an even worse predicament.

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[Dutch 68]

Would it be wise trying a grumpy DVSA to convince about these facts or maybe a foreign official where they have a 0% tolerance , not worth the risk , it then also invalidates insurance as not road legal

 

[poppycamper]

He has a tag axle if you read the OP so he’s saying he has give of 5000Kg

Yep.... did indeed read OP.. And yep did see tag axle... please what significance off 3 axles and overweight against 2 axles... curious to your reply...

 

[hja]

What is the relevance of the £3500?

 

[MichaelT]

You are way over, there is a bit of tolerance but not 450kg

 

[Stoosal]

As carpmart says the offence of being overweight is, you are, or are not. Bit like a pregnancy test!

The subsequent action by whoever is weighing you is the important bit. Usually they will allow up to 5% overweight without prosecution ie a ticket/court report etc.

That does not mean that you would not have to remove the excess weight prior to being allowed to continue your journey. It is difficult to allow an overweight and therefor unlawful vehicle to continue to drive. What happens if you are then involved in a collision etc?

I’m not sure I’d like to ‘lose’ 380kgs at the side of a road somewhere.

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[bobandjanie]

In my working life I owned and drove trucks, 44t and 6 axles still had fines exceeding weight, one fine in Dorset I couldn't find a solicitor to fight my case 2t under but over on one axle, they said the lady judge took no prisoners.

We went to court and I took all the paperwork proving the load was heavier than they declared, had I know I would have loaded the trailer to accommodate that.

Still got fined but not as much, but more important was it never marked our operators licence.

Don't take it for granted as with any offence you get nice policeman and some not so nice.

Since living in Spain and losing sight in one eye I can only drive 3500kg weighing our van at touring mode including electric bikes fuel water food clothes we are ........... 3480kg .
Maybe a nice policeman would let us drop the . Bob.

 

[gus-lopez]

Does anyone know if this is true or not as if it is it will save me £3500

No it isn't

 

[bigtwin]

it then also invalidates insurance as not road legal

So, if you have a bulb out (or a worn tyre), you have no insurance cover? I think that your argument may be flawed.

Ian

 

[Lenny HB]

5% is often given as a tolerance in the UK but it depends which side of the be the officer got out or. Abroad no tolerance.

Weighbridge have a tolerance of +/- 100kg on a plate dynamic it's +/- 110 per axle so to be safe you need to be 300kg under.

In practice modern strain gauges are very accurate

 

[Spriddler]

What is the relevance of the £3500?

The cost of two weeks at a residential weight loss clinic?

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