A 50-year-old haulage firm has had its fine for overloading cut from £5,000 to £1,500 by Solihull magistrates after they were told it was the company's first offence in 25 years. A Pettifor & Sons, of Meriden, near Coventry, overloaded a truck by 1,000kg with boiler pipes. For the firm, Michael Carless said the pipes were heavier than the equipment normally carried by the firm.
He added that the driver, Andrew Edwards, had told a Vosa inspector that he had
only carried out loading instructions although a weighbridge had been "round the corner". Carless added that the firm had not been told the boiler pipes were heavier than the previous ones and he described the offence as comparable to a driving charge of 34mph in a 30mph limit.
"The firm is a reputable company, formed 50 years ago as a family business by the grandfather of director Martin Pettifor, and has not been in trouble for 25 years until this offence," he said. Presiding magistrate Hugh Shirles said a £5,000 fine would normally have been imposed, but because of the firm's fine record over 25 years the fine would be reduced to £1,500 with £148 costs.
A Pettifor spokesman said measures had been taken to make sure the offence is not repeated.
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