Warning for TN firm
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• A company acquired by the Transport Development Group at the beginning of last year has been warned about its maintenance record at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.
North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Keith Watenvorth issued the warning to TDG subsidiary Woodrich Holdings, trading as Woodrich Distribution, of Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham.
The company was also seeking to increase the authorisation on its licence to 106 vehicles and 170 trailers, including vehicles and trailers previously authorised on the licence of the associated Woodrich Warehousing.
Department of Transport vehicle examiner Gordon Whittaker said that since January 1995 a total of 17 prohibitions had been issued to Woodrich Distribution vehicles and 10 to Woodrich Warehousing vehicles. He examined 10 vehicles and 12 trailers in April, imposing four immediate and five delayed prohibitions
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with 12 defect notices. He felt that inspections were too far apart, considering the age of some of the vehicles and trailers.
For the company, Stephen Kirkbright said inspections had been increased, new workshops were now in use and brake testing equipment was being installed.
Managing director Trevor Wood said that the business had been started by his father and the company was acquired by T1X; in January 1995. Ten vehicles operating under a licence in the West Midlands were also maintained at Newton Aycl iffy; vehicles under three years ()Id were maintained by the manufacturers' main dealers.
There was an agreement with the Freight Transport Association to carry out a yearly !audit check of their systems, he added.
Waterworth only increastid the authorisation to 96 vehicle i and 170 trailers, commenting that any further increase must await a demonstration of the effectiveness of the new systems.