LA warns OTT
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• United Transport Tankers received what Eastern Licensing Authority Brigadier Compton Boyd described as a "gypsy's warning" about the maintenance of its vehicles when the company appeared before him at a Nottingham public inquiry.
In addition to considering disciplinary action against the company's licence, the LA was also taking into account a bid to increase authorisation from 11 vehicles and 22 trailers to 30 vehicles and 37 trailers.
Vehicle examiner Paul Orange said he had inspected five vehicles and three trailers based at Long Eaton, issuing three immediate prohibitions, one delayed prohibition and three defect notices. Defects found included a shock absorber detached from its mounting, a seized load-sensing valve, and wheelnuts so loose that the wheel could have come off at any time. The inspection records appeared to be merely "tick exercises".
Orange said that a visit to
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the company's premises on July 10 showed that the inspection periods had been reduced and the maintenance contractor changed. Two vehicles were seen and no major defects found.
After it was revealed that the defective vehicles were on the licence of a subsidiary, United Transport Oils, at the time the prohibitions were issued, Brigadier Boyd said he proposed taking no action against the UTTs licence.
Geoffrey Jones, for the company, said it held licences in every Traffic Area, operating a total of 362 vehicles and 591 trailers. The operation of United Transport Oils was being merged into that of the parent company. The firm had complied with BS5750 since May and all its depots were now subject to quarterly qualitycontrol audit checks on vehicle maintenance.
In granting the variation, Brigadier Boyd warned that he would have to do 'something relatively drastic if he was given cause to question the company's maintenance again.