Drivers at one of the country’s worst-offending companies for overloading have been warned by a judge they face six-month bans if they appear before her again.
The ruling by district judge Joanna Dickens followed an appearance at Bristol Magistrates’ Court by SDS Distribution Services driver Gurpal Singh.
A traffic stop by the DVSA found Singh’s vehicle was 1,240kg overweight, more than 35% above the legal limit.
SDS was prosecuted for overloading and defective vehicle offences in May 2025 and it was fined £759,000 – the largest ever secured through a DVSA prosecution.
Previously trading as Starling Distribution Services, the company was first prosecuted as part of the enforcement agency’s Operation Milkman in August 2023 and fined £204,660.
Further convictions followed in November 2023, August 2024 and then May 2025, as the company repeatedly breached road safety rules.
Judge Dickens said stronger action was necessary because Singh’s employer had continued to offend despite repeated convictions and substantial financial penalties.
She said she “would not hesitate” to impose a six-month driving disqualification on any driver from SDS Distribution for the next overloading offence.
Singh told the court that he had worked for the company for around six or seven years but was unaware of its previous convictions. The judge questioned this, given the number of drivers previously prosecuted.
She told Singh that his employers had let him down badly and instructed him to make both his employer and other drivers at the company aware of her comments.
He was handed a 14-day driving ban and was ordered to pay £520, comprising a £300 fine, a £120 victim surcharge and £100 in costs.
DVSA director of enforcement Marian Kitson said: “I welcome this ruling, which shows the courts are prepared to take stronger action against drivers who repeatedly flout the law.
“Disqualification is a serious consequence for a serious breach of the rules – overloaded vehicles threaten the safety of all road users.
“DVSA will continue to bring persistent offenders before the courts and pursue the strongest available penalties to keep our roads safe.”
