A transport manager has been dismissed from his position and permanently barred from holding a similar role following an incident where 50-meter steel tubes were transported across the M25 without essential safety measures. Essex Police, conducting patrols on the motorway, identified the substantial “abnormal load” being moved by a lorry without previously agreed-upon safety precautions.
Collaborating with the company’s Force Abnormal Load Officer and Commercial Vehicle Unit, a plan was established for the movement of the abnormal load, allowing the company to transport 40-50 meter steel tubes under self-escort. However, despite the agreed safety measures designed to ensure road and user safety, the load was observed without these precautions just a few days later in December 2022.
An investigation revealed that the company had conducted six movements in the preceding days, all in violation of the carefully planned dispensation. The transport manager admitted the breaches in magistrates’ court, resulting in a £5,800 fine for permitting overweight vehicles on the road network.
On 6th December 2023, the case was transferred to the Traffic Commissioners Office in Leeds, where the transport manager received a lifetime ban from holding a similar position for any haulage company and was dismissed from his current role.
Sergeant Jason Dearsley, who leads the Commercial Vehicle Unit, emphasized the unit’s commitment to upholding road safety standards through education and collaboration with partners like DVSA and the Traffic Commissioner’s Office. He stated, “Where there is a blatant disregard for the law that puts people at risk, we won’t hesitate to enforce the law.” The unit aims to engage positively with hauliers and drivers but stresses the importance of adhering to established dispensations to ensure the safety of road users.
