A national plant hire operator has been ordered to pay more than £800,000 after being found guilty of transporting an abnormal load without proper notification — a serious road safety breach uncovered during a police-led operation.
The case stems from an inspection carried out in March 2024 as part of Operation Nightstare, a targeted campaign led by West Midlands Police’s Commercial Vehicle Unit in partnership with road safety teams. The initiative focuses on identifying unsafe and overweight vehicles travelling through the region.
During a Multi Agency Road Safety Operation (MARSO) held at the NEC near the M42, officers stopped a heavy goods vehicle transporting a large excavator and other plant machinery. While the operator had submitted a movement notification, officers discovered the vehicle was using a different axle configuration than had been declared.
This discrepancy significantly altered the vehicle’s weight distribution and gross weight, making the original notification invalid. Further inspection revealed that the lorry was not only overweight, but also longer and wider than legally permitted.
Because the correct vehicle details had not been submitted, no additional safeguarding measures — such as route planning, police escorts, or temporary traffic control — could be implemented to protect other road users from the risks posed by the massive load.
Following a detailed investigation, West Midlands Police, in collaboration with the Police Led Prosecution team, brought charges against L Lynch Plant Hire and Haulage Ltd, a Hertfordshire-based company. On Thursday, 27 March, the firm was convicted of three offences and ordered to pay:
- A fine of £800,000
- A £2,000 victim surcharge
- £130 in court costs
Superintendent Gareth Mason, Head of Roads Policing for West Midlands Police, said:
“Road safety is a priority for West Midlands Police and this case sends a clear message: if you breach abnormal load legislation and put the public at risk, we will take action.
When firms don’t follow proper procedures, it’s not just a technicality – it’s a serious safety risk.”
He added that the force remains committed to educating industry partners and enforcing road safety rules rigorously to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences.
Members of the public are also encouraged to assist in keeping roads safe. Through Operation Snap, drivers can submit dashcam, CCTV, or mobile phone footage of road offences directly to police for investigation.
For more information on Operation Snap or to upload footage, visit the West Midlands Police website.
