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Overloading concerns

FIGURES suggest that 88 per cent of vans are overloaded!

Wow! But that’s the percentage reported by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) when they carried out weight tests on 2,381 vans last year. Nearly nine out of 10 were overloaded.

FIGURES suggest that 88 per cent of vans are overloaded!

Wow! But that’s the percentage reported by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) when they carried out weight tests on 2,381 vans last year. Nearly nine out of 10 were overloaded. And that was an increase on the number reported in 2014.

Considering we now have record numbers of vans on the road as more and more companies sell via internet shopping, that is a worrying statistic.

Just as there have been massive improvements in car safety the manufacturers of light commercial vehicles have also improved safety in their vehicles with features such as Advanced Collision Warning Systems and Autonomous Emergency Braking. But overloading the van will reduce the effectiveness of braking and other systems leading to the potential for more accidents.

If you are operating light commercial vehicles and need some information on safe loading there is a great little video available on the DVSA website  under their Smart Van banner, you can find it at bit.ly/1YF4A33 or Google DVSA Van Smart and you’ll end up at the same place.

On the subject of accidents and the inevitable subsequent insurance claims it has come to light that excessive over charging is occurring for damage to Crown Property. This is defined as for example a motorway barrier, a road sign or the actual road surface. Once the repair is carried out by a Highways Agency subcontractor their bill is forwarded to the insurance company. It is recommended that this bill is subject to some scrutiny as there have been recent incidents of overcharging both for material and time taken to effect necessary repairs. One company saved 66 per cent of their bill as the subcontractor had charged for repairs to a barrier measured in yards not feet! You will find a claims management company will handle this for you if you are concerned.

Of course, once you have watched the Van Smart video and would like to order a van loaded with the latest safety features then speak to one of the Commercial Vehicle Sales Team at Alpha Contracts who will have all the latest info to hand.

For any other car or van related enquiry, speak to one of the team at Alpha Contracts Leasing Limited on 01604 756620.

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