Trucking company O’Neill Contracting faces Ballarat court over excessively long prime mover

A trucking company landed itself in hot water – and Ballarat court – after a truck inspection at Bungaree.

A truck with branding from South Australian company O'Neill Contracting, which faced Ballarat court on Monday. Picture: Facebook

A South Australian trucking company has escaped conviction at Ballarat court for having an oversized truck make an interstate trip.

Wingfield-based business O’Neill Contracting Australia Pty Ltd faced Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on Monday, represented by director Benjamin O’Neill.

The court heard that on June 7, 2024, a driver for O’Neill Contracting was stopped by National Heavy Vehicle Regulator officers at the Bungaree weighbridge on the Western Highway.

The prime mover, which carried solar panels and miscellaneous cargo, was determined to be 26.86m long despite having a prescribed length of 26m.

After an adjustment, the truck’s length was cut down by 100mm, but was still excessive.

The truck driver stopped at a weighbridge in Bungaree, east of Ballarat. Picture: File

The driver said he was going to Adelaide from Tottenham and that he had not personally measured the vehicle.

Mr O’Neill said the truck configuration used during the trip had been unusual, in part because of a breakdown that occurred earlier in Melbourne.

He said the company now used measuring marks in their bays and tape measures to ensure proper vehicle lengths.

“We do try to keep everything legal,” he said.

Although the court was told the breach was “severe”, magistrate Guillaume Bailin said it was not the most serious example of it.

Given O’Neill Contracting had no prior offences in its 45-year history, he fined the business $1000 without conviction after Mr O’Neill pleaded guilty.