Ignorance of Licensing No Excuse
Page 49
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THE importance of a proper know ledge of licensing procedure is not atways realized, even by the larger haulage organizations. This was clearly shown at Birmingham on January 19 when the Stourbridge transport manager of Robertson Buckley and Co., Ltd., admitted that he had used an unauthorized vehicle for nearly six weeks because he was unaware of the possibilities of short-term licence.
Mr. R. Hall, West Midland Deputy Licensing Authority, was told that when a new vehicle, applied for by way of substitution, was received from the makers it was found to be of a greater unladen weight than the original one. The Licensing Authority would not grant a variation without publication, and, during the interval, the new vehicle was used without licence to cope with the Christmas rush.
Mr. Hall suspended the grant of the licence for a similar period to that over which the vehicle had been used irregularly. Far too many hauliers and other business interests seem to be prepared to ride rough-shod over the regulations in an emergency, rather than organize the licensing side of their transport on proper lines.