UK OVERLOAD PROTECTION SYSTEMS
No overloads,
no penalties.
On-board overload protection systems calibrated to your vehicle, fitted by our own UK engineers, so you know the load before it leaves the yard. Most accurate at 90-100% of your vehicle GVW – the range that actually matters for DVSA.
UK-Built & Calibrated | Fitted Nationwide | 20+ Years Experience
ABOUT SMARTWEIGH
On-board overload protection, engineered in the UK and trusted on UK roads.
SmartWeigh designs, calibrates and supports on-board vehicle overload protection systems for fleets that cannot afford to be wrong about a load.
From single 3.5 tonne vans to 44 tonne articulated trucks, our systems put a real, accurate weight in the cab before the vehicle leaves the yard – dialled in to be most accurate between 90% and 100% of your GVW, with a guide accuracy of ±5%. No guesswork. No nasty surprises at the roadside.
UK-built systems with installation and support from our own engineers.
Calibrated to your vehicle, not a one-size-fits-all reading.
Audit-ready records for compliance, insurance and customer reporting.
AT A GLANCE
PART OF A WIDER FAMILY
Our Other Brands
SmartWeigh sits alongside three sister brands, each focused on a different corner of the commercial vehicle market.
Brake testing equipment trusted by the DVSA testing portal and ATFs across the UK.
Rugged in-vehicle computing for fleet operations, telematics and field engineers.
Industrial computers for machine vision, edge control, production line automation and more.
BEFORE YOU EXPLORE THE RANGE
What actually are SmartWeigh systems?
They are Overload Protection Monitors – designed to keep you on the right side of DVSA, not to bill customers per kilogram. Most accurate at 90-100% of your vehicle GVW, with a guide accuracy of ±5%. Built for one job. Does it properly.
OUR FULL RANGE
An overload protection system for every vehicle you operate.
From 3.5 tonne cage tippers to 44 tonne articulated trucks, agricultural trailers and portable axle pads. Pick your vehicle to see the right system.
3.5T Cage Tippers
On-board overload protection for 3.5 tonne cage tippers. Stay under MAM, every load.
Vans
Overload protection systems for vans from 3.5 to 7.5 tonne. Eliminate guesswork at the kerb.
7.5 to 32 Tonne
Robust on-board overload protection for medium to heavy commercial vehicles.
Forestry & Logging
Rugged overload protection engineered for forestry and logging operations.
Agricultural Trailers
On-board overload protection for agricultural trailers. Know the load before it leaves the field.
Wireless Weigh Pad Kits
Portable axle weighing kits. Fully wireless. Fully calibrated. Anywhere on site.
THE NUMBERS YOU CANNOT IGNORE
Overloading is no longer a quiet risk. It is the most prosecuted offence in commercial transport.
Convictions are climbing. Fines are getting bigger. And one weighbridge visit too late can void your insurance.
97%
Conviction rate when DVSA prosecute for overloading
Source: DVSA data, 2025
£759k
Largest single overloading fine ever issued in the UK
Source: DVSA, July 2025
30.3%
Of HGVs checked at the roadside found overloaded
Source: DVSA Q1-Q3 2024/25
£4,000
Estimated cost per day per vehicle for a roadside prohibition
Source: GOV.UK / DVSA
THE REAL COST OF GETTING IT WRONG
Three ways an overloaded vehicle hits your bottom line.
Every offence carries a different penalty band. Most operators only learn the difference after the first fine.
FIXED PENALTY · 0% to 15% OVER
£100 – £300
Issued at the roadside by a DVSA examiner. Vehicle prohibited from continuing until weight is reduced. Driver loses time. Customers lose deliveries.
Source: GOV.UK graduated fixed penalties
COURT SUMMONS · 30%+ OVER
Up to £5,000 per axle
No fixed penalty option. Each overloaded axle is a separate offence. Drivers can be charged with dangerous driving, an offence that carries a possible prison sentence.
Source: DVSA / Road Traffic Act
INSURANCE INVALIDATED
Full liability
If an overloaded vehicle is involved in a collision, your insurance can be voided. You are then operating without cover, which is itself a criminal offence, and your business carries the full claim.
Source: GOV.UK / industry guidance
THE OPERATOR MATH
One avoided fine usually pays for the system.
The average overloading fine for a light goods vehicle in early 2025 was just under £10,000. A single court appearance for a multi-axle overload can run higher than the cost of fitting a SmartWeigh system across your entire fleet.
We help operators see the load before they leave the yard. No guesswork. No “should be fine”. No phone call from the roadside.
WHAT YOU GET
Avoid Penalties. Protect Your Business. Stay Legal.
Struggling to drive in a straight line usually means one thing 🚨⚖️
Well above the 3.5t limit on the A1 at #GRANTHAM.
Load removed and driver reported.
👉
#SmartWeigh #DVSA #Overloaded #RoadSafety
#RPU Conducting vehicle checks on the A1 #GRANTHAM stopped this recovery vehicle struggling to drive in a straight line. Any guess on the weight?
It’s safe to say it was above its 3500kg gross weight limit. #OPTRAMLINE
Load removed, driver reported for the offence.
Less Rocky, more overload catastrophe 🚨
❌ 2,880kg overweight
❌ 98% over on rear axle
❌ Cord exposed tyre
Seized and prohibited.
⚖️ SmartWeigh helps fleets know their weight before DVSA does.
👉
#SmartWeigh #DVSA #Overloaded #RoadSafety
#RPU love a montage; however, this is less Rocky, more Dumb & Dumber.
2,880 kg overweight on gross; tyre with cord exposed; no side repeater; 98% over on rear axle. Prohibition issued and seized for no tax.
A true debacle. Driver reported for summons to court. #PG9 #DVSA
Wawaweewaa 👀
3.5t limit.
6,260kg reality.
94% overweight on the rear axle 🚨
⚖️ SmartWeigh helps stop overloads before the springs give up.
👉
#SmartWeigh #DVSA #Overloaded #RoadSafety
"Wawaweewaa!" #RPU Stopped this ‘very nice’ 3500kg (GW) van in #BOSTON. Weighed in at a whopping 6260kg 👀
94% overweight on the rear axle alone.
Sad springs = bad things. Another disaster awaiting to happen,averted by proactive, robust targeted patrols. #DVSA #LincsSpecials
Over half a tonne overweight on a 3.5t vehicle 🚨
Add defective brakes, a damaged windscreen and no seatbelt… what could possibly go wrong indeed.
⚖️ SmartWeigh Onboard Weighing Systems help operators prevent dangerous overloads before they reach the roadside.
#RPU stopped this vehicle on the A1 near Grantham. Over 1/2 tonne over its plated weight of 3500kgs, defective brakes, damaged windscreen and driver not wearing a seatbelt. What could possibly go wrong. Driver reported for summons and vehicle prohibited.
REAL OPERATORS, REAL RESULTS
Customer case studies.
From single-vehicle owner-operators to multi-truck fleets, SmartWeigh systems are working out in the real world every day.
After researching what was available to us we […]
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Answers to the questions we get asked most.
Quick answers on systems, calibration, installation and compliance. If your question is not here, our team is happy to help.
What does a SmartWeigh system actually do?
On-board overload protection. The system reads gross and axle weights from sensors fitted to your vehicle and shows the result on a cab display before the vehicle leaves the yard. It is built to keep you under MAM and out of trouble with DVSA, not to bill customers by the kilogram.
How accurate are SmartWeigh systems?
Our guide is ±5% accuracy across the 90-100% GVW range, which is the band where overload fines actually happen. In practice, most operators see better than this once the system is calibrated and bedded in. Light, part-loaded readings will be less accurate by design. A bathroom scale is happiest reading a person, not a feather.
Why are SmartWeigh systems most accurate near full load?
Axles and suspension components flex measurably under serious weight. They barely move under light loads. We calibrate the system to read accurately where it matters: in the 90-100% GVW zone where you risk a fine. That is the design, not a flaw. It is the same principle in any on-board system on the market. Vehicle age and axle wear also play a part, especially at lighter weights.
Are SmartWeigh systems legal for trade?
No. They are overload protection monitors, designed for compliance, safety and audit. They are not approved for pay-per-kilogram billing or for sale of goods. If you need a legal-for-trade weight, use a calibrated weighbridge. For portable axle checks across a fleet, look at our Wireless Weigh Pad Kits.
Do you have a system for my type of vehicle?
Almost certainly. The range covers:
- 3.5 tonne cage tippers
- Vans from 3.5 to 7.5 tonne
- Rigids from 7.5 to 32 tonne
- Tankers
- 44 tonne articulated trucks
- Forestry and logging vehicles
- Agricultural trailers
For mixed fleets or one-off vehicles, our Wireless Weigh Pad Kits give portable axle weighing without permanent installation.
What does the driver see in the cab?
A clear, real-time readout of axle and gross weights, with warnings as you approach the legal limit. The driver knows the load is right before pulling out of the yard. No guesswork. No “should be fine”.
How long does installation take, and who fits it?
Most installs are completed in a few hours by our own engineers. We install at our facility or come to you for fleet rollouts. Each system is calibrated to your specific vehicle as part of the fitting. It is not a generic plug-and-play kit.
Will the system interfere with my vehicle?
No. Sensors are added to the existing suspension or axle hardware and the cab display is wired in cleanly. We do not modify safety-critical systems and the installation does not affect normal vehicle operation or roadworthiness.
How often does the system need recalibrating?
We recommend an annual calibration check to keep readings accurate. If you have major suspension or axle work done, or the vehicle is in heavy daily use, recalibrate sooner. Calibration is documented for your audit records and tied to that specific vehicle.
Can the system be moved to a new vehicle?
Yes. When you replace a vehicle, we can transfer and recalibrate the system to the new one. The hardware is not single-use. If your fleet swaps vehicles or loads constantly, our Wireless Weigh Pad Kits are often a better fit because they move with the operator rather than the vehicle.
When should I use a Wireless Weigh Pad Kit instead?
The Wireless Weigh Pad Kits are portable, calibrated axle pads you can use anywhere on site. They suit:
- Mixed fleets that need spot checks across many vehicles
- Hire companies doing handover weights
- Yards and depots where permanent installation does not make sense
- Operators who want a calibrated check independent of the on-board system
Fully wireless, fully calibrated, ready out of the case.
What support and warranty do I get?
UK-based support from the engineers who designed and installed your system. Every system ships with a warranty, calibration records and direct access to our team when you need them. We are not a reseller of someone else’s kit. We build, fit, calibrate and back our own systems from our UK base.
Cannot see your question? Get in touch with our team and we will get back to you the same working day.
Talk to our overload protection specialist.
Tell us a little about your fleet and the kind of work you do. We will recommend the right system, confirm pricing, and be in touch the same working day.
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From enquiry to road-legal in a week.
Send an enquiry
Tell us about your vehicles, your operation and where you are based. We will confirm the right system for you and come back with a quote.
We arrange your install
A SmartWeigh engineer attends your yard or depot with the full kit. Most installs are done within hours, no workshop trip needed.
Calibrated and signed off
Our installer brings calibration weigh pads as part of the fit. We test the system with you on-site so it is signed off and ready before we leave.