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6th May 2004, Page 27
6th May 2004
Page 27
Page 27, 6th May 2004 — Using a glass eye
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Even world-class companies can take their eye off the ball when it comes to routine

vehicle maintenance...

GLASS MANUFACTURER Pilkington has had its licence cut by 10 vehicles after doing "too little too late" to respond to a formal maintenance warning issued last year.

Cutting the firm's 0-licence to 50 vehicles, Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell said some of the defects found were not those she would expect from a company that "prided itself on being a world-class supplier".

Pilkington UK held a restricted North Western Area 0-licence for 60 vehicles and nine trailers based at four depots.

The inquiry heard that there had been serious maintenance problems at depots in Salford, Liverpool and Dronfield with only Somercotes getting a clean sheet.

On the first day of the hearing the TC heard that maintenance was contracted out to various agents. An investigation was carried out at the Salford depot in July due to the serious defects listed on a prohibition variation notice. Twelve vehicles were examined and an immediate prohibition was issued for a tyre defect with a delayed prohibition for an air leak, marked S for a serious maintenance defect.

The initial pass rate of 67% at annual test was unacceptable; with the type of defects found this suggested poor preparation work. The prohibition that had led to the visit should not have occurred had the vehicle been adequately prepared for annual test.

The company still had a recognisable problem in the quality of inspections and the level of repair (CM18 March). Vehicle examiner Peter Turner said the main problem He found at the Liverpool depot was the poor quality of the drivers' daily walk-round checks. He accepted that when eight vehicles were examined their general condition was satisfactory

However, an initial failure rate of 36% at annual test revealed that there were further shortcomings at the depot.

Vehicle examiner Ted Ferns reported that he had issued a number of defect notices at the Dronfield depot and some of the defects were long standing.

Geoffrey Jones, for Pilkington's, said a Mercedes dealership had missed a bald tyre on one of the Dronfield vehicles. Ferns confirmed this, adding that when he visited the dealership they were "a bit embarrassed". Contractor change

Jones said eight of the 16 Salford vehicles were maintained by main dealerships. Following the VOSA report the maintenance contractor responsible for the other eight had been changed. The FTA had been contracted to carry out regular monthly audits and the recommendations of the vehicle examiners had been taken on board.

It was accepted that training and auditing would make the driver defect reporting system more effective. Director Nicholas Shaw said Pilkington's spent a lot of money on ensuring it had a safe and effective fleet and first-use inspections

were an important part of that regime. The business could not operate without the specialised vehicles on this and other licences held throughout the country.

Cutting the licence to 50 vehicles, the TC said she felt that there should have been a root and branch review after the company received a warning letter in January 2003. Ordering VOSA to go back in nine months' time, the TC warned that if the company failed to comply with its obligations in the future some form of severe action against the licence would be considered. •

DON'T BE SHY—ASK!

CM'S legal section welcomes your questions which will be answered in print by top transport lawyers.

Whether your question is about overloading, drivers' hours, or any aspect of employment law or driving legislation, we will endeavour to give our experts' interpretation of the law. Questions can only be answered in CM's pages. Write to Patric Cunnane, Legal Editor, Commercial Motor, Quadrant House, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS; telephone 020 8652 3678, or e-mail: patric.cunnane@rbi.co.uk


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