Record-breaking fine for repeated overloading offences

The record-breaking fine was imposed on Starling Distribution Services following a hearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, which saw the company convicted of overloading and defective vehicle offences.

The enforcement agency said that despite the dairy distributor’s vehicles previously being found overloaded or with dangerous defects on multiple occasions, it continued to operate in a dangerous manner.

In August 2024, and then again in February this year, DVSA officers stopped three of Starling’s vehicles during a routine vehicle inspection.

It said they found that the vehicle with the biggest overload weighed 5,040kg when it should have weighed no more than 3,500kg.

This meant it was 44% over the maximum permitted limit.

Another of the vehicles was overloaded by 1,080kg, meaning it was 30.86% over the maximum permitted limit.

It also had significant roadworthiness issues, including braking defects and inoperative direction indicators.

The vehicle’s condition was deemed to pose a danger to road users and so an immediate prohibition was issued.

The DVSA said the company deliberately chose to avoid using HGVs for milk distribution work due to the tighter regulation involved, in order to obtain a commercial advantage.

It added that two drivers were also prosecuted and issued with smaller fines and costs.

Marian Kitson, DVSA director of enforcement said: “Operators who think they can continually flout the rules will face the full force of the law, as demonstrated by the success of this prosecution.

“There is no excuse for vehicle operators who fail to comply and put the safety of other road users at risk.”

Starling Distribution Services was first prosecuted as part of the DVSA’s Operation Milkman back in August 2023, where it was fined £204,660.

Despite this significant fine, the company continued to re-offend, leading to further convictions in November 2023, August 2024 and now this latest prosecution.