Transportation of goods is an integral part of the business world. A sensible and pragmatic approach is required when loading a truck or lorry. The truck’s size, type, payload, and axle weight all play an essential part.
An overloaded vehicle is likely to affect the driver’s ability to control the truck directly. Furthermore, you could be breaking the law. Putting yourself, other people, and your vehicle in danger. And, what about your company’s reputation? That is an important consideration.
Let’s look at issues when overloading the vehicles:
Difficulty in driving the vehicle
The vehicles, by design, carry a specified amount of weight. Overloaded vehicles are difficult to drive. It becomes less stable, hard to steer, and takes longer to stop.
It makes it much harder for the driver to control the vehicle. Also, the safety of the truck is compromised. In some cases, this can lead to a fatal accident.
Fuel cost increase
The heavier the vehicle, the more energy is required to move it. Overloading the truck increases fuel consumption. It is advisable to load the cargo to the specified weight limit. Keeping the load to the weight limit is for your and other people’s safety.
Our TruckLoader application helps to ensure that your vehicle is not overloaded.
Damage to vehicle tires
When the vehicle is loaded, the weight of the cargo translates directly on the tires. The heavier the payload, the greater the pressure put on the tires. The tires undergo tremendous strain and start to overheat.
In addition to overheating, the overloading can result in rapid wear on the tires. As a result, the vehicle may suffer a tire blowout. This could be catastrophic! It could also lead to premature, dangerous, and costly wheel failures.
You would certainly require to repair and replace the tyre more often.
Damage to the road work
Overloaded vehicles impact the tires. It has similar effect on the roads and bridges. Heavy goods vehicles are responsible for the most damage to roads and bridges.
Ultimately, the road’s surface carries the weight of the payload and the truck. Roads can take only a certain amount of stain. Like anything, putting the strain above its limit leads to deterioration.
The road surfaces, bridges, and pavement will suffer excessive wear and damage over time. As a responsible road users we need to take care.
Invalidate insurance cover
Insurance covers are specific when it comes to road safety. In the event of an accident, insurance companies will look at the circumstance that led to the accident. Overloading the vehicles beyond their specified limit is unacceptable to the insurance company. It is illegal to drive a goods vehicle over its specified limit. The insurance cover immediately becomes void.
Legal action
Any legal action will harm the reputation of the company and prove costly.
For more information on Excess weight offenses and penalties, please refer to the government website.
Summary
In summary, an overloaded vehicle is not a good idea. Always opt for safer transportation of goods. Overloading can have a devastating effect on your company. The best way to avoid overloading is to make your staff knowledgeable about its impact.
Always, ensure that overloading doesn’t take place.
This is where TruckLoader comes in very handy.
TruckLoader will assist you in organising your goods. It will ensure that you don’t exceed your weight limit. More importantly, it calculates axle weight. The axle weight is difficult to calculate manually.
With TruckLoader, your vehicle will comply with gross and axle weight limits. They are protecting you from overloading the vehicle.
Remember! A safe journey is the best journey. Get loading with TruckLoader.