A van carrying a load 2.5 tonnes overweight was stopped on the M4 after its suspension snapped.
The van driver, who was transporting a cargo of alcohol, was "driving without a licence, driving without insurance and driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition," police said.
The van was 74 per cent over its legal weight.
Wiltshire Police ran ANPR technology on the van which was travelling westbound on the M4 close to Leigh Delamere services, on Saturday morning (March 13).
When it was inspected it was discovered that this weight had meant the bracket holding the suspension springs together and in place had sheared.
The vehicle was seized and prohibited from being driven on a road.
HM Customs and Excise were also made aware about the alcohol on board the van and will be conducting further investigations.
PC Alan King, from Wiltshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “This incident just highlights the dangers of overloaded vehicles on our roads.
“Had this vehicle been involved in a collision or the springs fully failed then it could have resulted in serious, even fatal, consequences.”
