Driving for Work: Mythbusters
52 common misconceptions – and the facts employers and drivers need to know
Myth 30: Vans can carry anything because they’re big and strong
Vans have lots of space in the back, but that doesn’t mean you can fill it. How much you can fit in the back depends on how heavy the boxes are, not how big they are. Every van has a legal payload limit – the maximum weight it can safely carry – and exceeding it is both illegal and dangerous.
An overloaded van has compromised braking performance, reduced steering response, and altered handling characteristics that the driver may not anticipate.
Beyond weight, load security is a separate and equally important issue. Unsecured loads shift during manoeuvres and braking, altering the vehicle’s centre of gravity and potentially becoming projectiles in a collision.
Employers who allow drivers to load vans without training, load plans, or consideration of payload limits are creating avoidable and serious risk. The driver can be fined up to £5,000 if their vehicle is found by the DVSA to be overloaded and the employer can also be fined for allowing this to happen.
Driver takeaway:
Know your van’s payload limit and check the weight of your load – not just whether it fits.
An overloaded van handles differently and stops more slowly. You are legally responsible for the load you carry and could be fined up to £5,000.
Manager takeaway:
Provide load plans, payload information, and training on load security for all drivers who carry goods.
Drivers found overloaded face fines of up to £5,000 but the employer who authorised an unsafe load shares both the legal and moral responsibility.
