Tough penalties for road transporters who overload vehicles

8/9/97

Road transporters in Western Australia have been warned that overloading of vehicles will prove costly to their operations in future.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said the Department of Transport and Main Roads WA would crack down hard on irresponsible transport operators who deliberately flouted loading regulations.

The consequences for those caught, would be automatic loss of operating permits, effectively putting the vehicle off the roads.

"The crackdown is supported by the road transport industry because it will get rid of the 'cowboys' who are undermining the credibility of the industry," Mr Charlton said.

"The purge will apply to all commodities transported by road.

"Apart from the obvious safety questions, overloading has a much greater impact on road wear and tear which translates to a cost burden on the whole community. There is also the ethical question of undercutting honest operators who do the right thing by the law."

Mr Charlton said the transport industry had seen a lot of change in recent years, much of it with the assistance and support of the State Government, and it was up to the industry itself to do the right thing by operating within the loading specifications laid down.

"The industry has only a minority of operators choosing to go outside the law but we are determined to weed them out," he said.

Media contact: Doug Cunningham 9321 7333