Truck gets six month ban
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• A vehicle has been suspended for six months from the eight-vehicle licence held by Tovinco, which operates as Hanson Europa in Huddersfield, and the company's licence has only been renewed for 12 months subject to an undertaking that it will enter a contract for the monthly maintenance of its vehicles by an outside contractor.
North Eastern LA Frederick Whalley ruled that evidence from Kirldees District Council that vehicles had to park and manoeuvre on the highway because there was insufficient room at the operating centre had no bearing on the company's repute, and he refused to hear the objection.
Vehicle examiner Peter McKay gave evidence of the issue of one delayed and two immediate prohibition notices, with four defect notices, when six vehicles were examined in November.
He said it was difficult to understand why the condition of the vehicles was unsatisfactory when the facilities and staff were adequate. He felt it was a question of the competence of the supervision of the staff.
Managing director David Peace felt that many of the defects listed, particularly those on the defect notices, were matters of opinion. Since the vehicle examiner's visit, the method of working had been reorganised and a Tapley Meter had been purchased to check brake efficiency.
Whalley commented that where defects were a matter of opinion he preferred to accept the view of the Department of Transport's experienced vehicle examiners. Whalley said that the case boiled down to the fact that no-one was experienced enough to check that the right standards were being applied. He warned that if the situation was not satisfactory in 12 months time he would take firm action.