Fierce Argument Over Trailer Replacement
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THE Northern Licensing Authority last week reserved his decision on the application by Sunter Bros.,. Ltd., Northallerton, to add a 32-wheeled
trailer outfit to their A licence. As reported last week, the objectors were the British Transport Commission and Robert Wynn and Sons, Ltd., Newport. Mon.
Mr. N. R. Wynne. for Robert Wynn, said that the application was for the replacement of a 45-ton outfit by another stated to have a similar capacity. He submitted that the application stood or fell on whether the Authority accepted the applicants' contention that the carrying capacities were similar. The objectors held that the new vehicle's capacity would be far in excess of 45 tons.
"We do not wish to stand in the way of any operator who wishes to modernize his fleet, but we do say that if he does modernize his vehicles he should do so with what are considered throughout the industry to be their modern equivalents," said Mr. Wynne.
Sunter's were seeking to replace what was described as an obsolete 45-ton trailer with solid tyres on eight wheels with a 32-wheeled multi-axled hydraulic suspension trailer.
If the proposed trailer were used only for the loads which had been mentioned by the applicant as being carried on the old trailer, it would not he operated to capacity. Mr. Sunter had said that he did not wish to change the nature of his business. But he has now said in unmistakable terms I will find out what this trailer can carry and I will put it on,'" Mr. Wynne submitted.
He said that the tarrying capacity of the proposed vehicle was 90 tons, and • asked the Authority either to refuse the application or to give the applicants what was the modern conventional replacement for the old trailer. .
Mr. A. W. Balne, for the Commis
Sion. said that the applicants during the hearing, had indicated that they proposed to replace three other vehicles. "Here we are facing the first of a seriesof 90-ton carrying-capacity trailers introducedinto the Northern Traffic Area to do a class of work quite, different from the trailers which the applicants propose to -abandon as
obsolete.. .
"Let us not pretend that this is a45-ton carrying capacity vehicle that ,s being applied for. it is a 70-ton trailer. If you take the most realistic view, the manufacturers ' of this trailer are designing it on a specification submitted on the constructional details of a 90-ton vehicle," said Mr. Balm.
Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, for the applicants: " My submission is that this trailer, while it is conceivable that it could possibly carry 72 tons, is not likely to be used for conveyance of that sort and that 58 tons maximum at 12 m.p.h. is a much more accurate — assessment. "
If one looks at the statistics prepared by the applicants and the objectors, one finds that trailers are normally used for loadsof much rest than their maximum carrying capacity.
The objectors had said that it Would be uneconomic to use the proposed trailer, forthe class of work intended. But even if that were so, what had that to do with the objectors, Mr. Wardlaw asked.