Rickaby & Lee loses out
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• Maintenance problems have led to Bradfordbased Rickaby & Lee Transport being allowed less than the number of additional vehicles and trailers requested to service a new dedicated contract.
The company had applied to North Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority John Hampton, to add 13 vehicles and 20 trailers to its licence for 42 vehicles and 18 trailers. The DLA would only allow it six extra vehicles and 10 trailers.
Hampton also cut the duration of its 0-Licence to expire in 12 months' time, and warned that further problems could lead to its suspension or revocation, Vehicle examiner David Howram said that he made a pre-arranged fleet inspection in July, examining five vehicles and two trailers. One vehicle was in a very dangerous condition and was given an immediate prohibition for two serious defects. "Ile brakes of another vehicle were seriously out of adjustment but no prohibition was issued as the brakes were adjusted during the examination.
A recent check on a sister company, S S Van Lines, operating from the same premises, found that company's vehicles to be in good condition.
Managing director Ian Tutton said that arrangements had been made for the additional vehicles to be maintained by Northern Commercials. An operations manager had been appointed who would liaise with the contractors. Operations director Dennis Swannell said he had previously owned S S Van Lines. The two companies merged in 1986 and the number of vehicles operated had substantially increased. The company's vehicles were mostly new quality vehicles and maintenance had improved in the past six months.
Hampton said the July fleet check revealed a serious state of affairs and followed an unsatisfactory fleet inspection in January 1988, and a warning at a public inquiry in May 1988 (CM 2-8 June 1988). On that occasion one vehicle attracted an immediate prohibition and two trailers were prohibited.
The arrangements had been unsatisfactory in 1988 and continued to be unsatisfactory in 1989. He needed a good deal of convincing that the situation had now been remedied.