In March 2024 West Midlands police officers stopped a heavy goods vehicle transporting a large excavator and associated plant equipment at the NEC near the M42.
A movement notification had been submitted by the plant hire operator, L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage, but the vehicle was travelling on a different axle from the submitted notification form. This affected the vehicle鈥檚 weight distribution, and gross weight 鈥� which meant the notification was invalid.
The lorry was examined and found to be significantly overweight, as well as longer and wider than allowed.
Because of the change from the notification, no additional safeguarding measures had been put in place to protect road users from the risks of such an oversized and heavy load.
On 27th March L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage Ltd was convicted of three separate offences at court and fined 拢800,000. It was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 拢2,000 and costs of 拢130.
Superintendent Gareth Mason, head of roads policing for West Midlands Police, said: 鈥淩oad safety is a priority for West Midlands Police and this case sends a clear message: if you breach abnormal load legislation and put the public at risk, we will take action. When firms don鈥檛 follow proper procedures, it鈥檚 not just a technicality 鈥� it鈥檚 a serious safety risk.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we work closely with partner agencies to carry out targeted enforcement operations, educate industry partners, and prosecute offenders where necessary , as the consequences of getting it wrong can be catastrophic.鈥�
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