Owner-driver unaware of responsibilities
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A Merseyside owner-driver possibly did not realise what he was taking on when he applied for an 0-licence, a vehicle examiner said at a Trafford disciplinary inquiry.
Tranmere-based Michael Hoyle had been called before North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mulvenna because of concern over his Mulvenna: Required a new contractor and paperwork. maintenance standards.
Vehicle examiner Geoffrey Chan said he examined Royle's vehicle in August, found it in an unsatisfactory condition, and imposed an immediate prohibition. There was no evidence of any forward planning system, the inspection records were OF an unsatisfactory type and were not always fully completed. The declared inspection Period was not always followed. Many of the defects listed on the prohibitions imposed during the short period that Hoyle had held a licence should have been picked up in the daily walkround checks, Chan thought Hoyle had not realised what he was taking on and that he had been let down by his first maintenance contractor.
The Deputy Commissioner said he required a written contract with the new contractor. He pointed out that although Hoyle was an owner-driver, he was still required to have a written driver defect reporting system, The Deputy Commissioner issued a warning and said he felt Hoyle deserved a chance to put matters right. He hoped he was new firmly aware of the responsibilities holding an 0licence placed on his shoulders.
The Deputy Commissioner said there should be a maintenance investigation without warning some time in the next year and said that if there was no improvement in the condition of the vehicle and the maintenance records Reyle's licence would be in serious jeopardy.