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Licence conditions are lifted

12th March 1998, Page 22
12th March 1998
Page 22
Page 22, 12th March 1998 — Licence conditions are lifted
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Trailer, Drum Brake

• A Cardiff haulier was granted a licence in May 1996 with a condition that only six of the eight vehicles authorised be specified at any one time because of maintenance problems. Now he has succeeded in having the condition removed, despite an unsatisfactory report from a vehicle examiner.

Robin Fowler, trading as RA Fowler Transport, sought to remove the condition from his licence for eight vehicles and 10 trailers before South Wales Traffic Commissioner John Mervyn Pugh at a Cardiff public inquiry.

For Fowler, Geoffrey Williams said he had started as a one-man business in 1990 and the previous problems had been caused by rapid expansion. The vehicles were now tested twice a year and there had only been one failure since the last public inquiry when the condition was imposed (CM 13-19 June 1996).

Vehicle examiner Stuart Robson told the TC that although he had not issued any prohibition notices he had marked his report of his maintenance investigation as unsatisfactory. He agreed that the investigation had been made at short notice and he had asked Fowler to make vehicles available for examination within 24 hours.

The problem he encountered was an inoperative brake on a trailer, said Robson. There was a groove in the drum and the cam was over the top. The brake drum was also badly worn and he felt that it should have been replaced earlier.

There was another brake problem on a second trailer, but Robson accepted that the brakes had been relined the day before and the trailer was still in the workshop.

Robson added that he had reservations about the condition of the trailers, but he had given Fowler the benefit of the doubt.

Removing the condition, Mervyn Pugh said he was satisfied that Fowler could maintain his present fleet properly.

However, he warned Fowler that he could not afford to attract further prohibition notices.


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