AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Clock is ticking over fleet test failure rate

10th December 2009
Page 24
Page 24, 10th December 2009 — Clock is ticking over fleet test failure rate
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Sixteen prohibitions in four years put 3 n operator in the last-chance saloon to prevent the TC from taking action.

AN OPERATOR THAT received 16 prohibitions in four years will have its fleet suspended unless each vehicle has passed an annual vehicle test first time by the end of the year.

Selby-based Fleetbush, which holds an 0-licence for 10 vehicles and 16 trailers, had been called before NorthEastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney.

Vehicle examiner Geoffrey Hales said that a maintenance investigation was carried out following the issue of an 'S'-marked prohibition for a defective steering joint.

TWo vehicles and two trailers were examined with only advisory defects being found. However, there were instances of the four-weekly inspection period being stretched to six weeks.

At the last public inquiry in February 2005, undertakings were given that driver defect reporting would be audited fortnightly, and that there would be a target of a 90% first-time pass rate at annual vehicle test. Currently, the initial pass rate at annual test is 43%, with a final pass rate of 70%. Sixteen prohibitions had been issued since the 2005 inquiry. There were no driver defect reporting audit reports available.

Managing director Brian Nalton said that many of the prohibitions had been for incidental matters and for things beyond the company's control, yet they had proven to be expensive, with vehicles having to be taken off the road and prepared for test. It was difficult to stay out of minor prohibitions.

He said the company had a driver defect reporting audit record book, hut it was not with him.

After Nalton had said that his vehicles were constantly being stopped by VOSA because of the Operator Compliance Risk Score traffic light system, the TC said the annual vehicle test pass rate showed that the firm's vehicles were unsafe on the road.

Nalton replied that they were doing everything in their power to get their vehicles through the test, but they often failed on minor items.

In reply to the TC, Nalton said that inspection periods had perhaps been extended occasionally because the vehicle was away. They were their own "worst enemy" in some cases by running older vehicles, but it was not a "tattyfleet and it wasn't as if the company was deliberately sending wrecks out on to the road.

Nalton gave undertakings to have a systems audit by a reputable body and to put all his vehicles through a fresh vehicle test by the end of the year.

Tags

Locations: Selby

comments powered by Disqus