IICE GUYS
Page 17
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hose pxaminers
EHICLE examiners are not there to catch people out — not iless it is absolutely necessary. And this is contrary to the ews of some operators, said the West Midland Licensing uthority, Mr A. A. Crabtree, at an inquiry last week.
Mr Crabtree said that a very .eat part of the examiners' b was to give advice to ierators.
The West Midland LA was inouncing his decision to ke no action other than to .;ue a warning to Cammidge )ad Construction Ltd, Coaltry. One of the factors that id influenced his decision to ke no punitive action, and to hich he attached very great iportance, had been the fact e company had co-operated ith the vehicle examiner and :cepted his advice.
The vehicle examiner conmed, Mr R. Pealand, said he rst visited the company, hich held a licence for four ?..hicles and three trailers, in fay. The maintenance !cords were unsatisfactory Id an examination of one ehicle and two trailers !vealed they did not tally ith the condition of the hicles. He did not impose a rohibition as the vehicle was rider repair.
In June he carried out a full fleet inspection, imposing one' immediate and two delayed prohibitions. One of the prohibitions was cleared before he left the premises. Action had been taken to solve the records problem by introducing RHA inspection forms.
The major problem was that the maintenance staff was inadequate. Apart from the heavy goods vehicles, there were 16 items of plant and six small vans which had to be maintained. Two fitters were employed, one of whom was obliged to travel from one construction site to another to maintain the plant.
Mr Geoffrey Cammidge, a director, said the vehicles did low mileage and were inspected monthly. Since the vehicle examiner's visit the maintenance staff had been increased by employing an improver and it. was the intention to also take on an apprentice.
Mr Crabtree warned the company that he would have to take punitive action if the next vehicle examiner's report was a bad one.