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Within the transport and logistics industries, saving fuel has more benefits than keeping your costs down; it is also good for the environment.
When it comes to fuel efficiency, the heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it uses. Knowing the weight of your fleet and monitoring your vehicles’ weight distribution can save money in fuel, repairs, tyres and fines.
Implementing regular vehicle weighing for your fleet will lead to significant fuel savings and reduce your business’s environmental footprint.
Weighing is Your Best Efficiency Tool
Actively monitoring the weight of your vehicles using weighbridges, in-ground axle scales or weigh pads ensures your vehicle is running efficiently and meeting the legal requirements for maximum axle and vehicle weights.
Many commercial vans act as mobile storerooms for rarely used equipment, and a quick weight check, by hiring our axle pads, will reveal this wasted capacity instantly. If just half of the UK’s van drivers lightened their loads by 75kg, they would save £50 million in fuel and prevent 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually (Energy Savings Trust).
Heavier loads can also cause tyres to deform, increasing friction and wear. This not only damages roads but leads to more regular tyre replacements and increases the possibility of a dangerous blowout. Regular weighing helps ensure the vehicle’s axle and gross weights are legal, the right tyre pressure is used for the weight of the vehicle and that the engine doesn’t have to overwork due to overloading.
Legal and Financial Incentives
Beyond the fuel costs and economic considerations, overloading a vehicle is also dangerous and against the law. In the UK, the DVSA enforces strict Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) limits, typically 3,500kg for standard vans. Police enforcement regularly pulls over suspected overloaded vehicles and checks them using vehicle weigh pads. If the vehicles are overloaded, the police will act, leading to costly fines, points on your license or prison terms for dangerous driving.
Overloading the vehicle also strains the engine, suspension, and brakes, leading to dangerous, premature wear and higher maintenance costs. It also increases stopping distances, creating significant safety risks.
Check out our case study with Suffolk Police Constabulary in the video below to learn more.
Vehicle Weighing Solutions
Thankfully, there are many options to ensure your fleet is staying within the law and is safe for the environment.
Vehicle Weigh Axle Pads
Portable and easy to use, vehicle weigh pads can be placed under each tyre, allowing the fleet manager and drivers to see how much payload they are carrying before they leave the depot.
Valueweigh Wheel and Axle Weigh Pad
Valueweigh Axlemate Wheel Weigh Pad
Valueweigh Wireless Axlemate Weigh Pad
In-Ground Dynamic Axle Platforms
Conveniently positioned in a depot, vehicles drive over the scale without stopping and are alerted to overloads using a traffic light system.
Valueweigh In-Ground Axle Platform Scale
AWM’s axle pad hire service provides a practical solution for weighing vehicles accurately and efficiently.
If you’re ready to discuss your vehicle weighing requirements, fill in the form below or contact us at sales@awmltd.com or 01284 701222 to talk it through.
