De Rooy's UK division granted 0-licence
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Despite maintenance concerns regarding the firm's dutch parent, the TC grants Intramast (UK) an 0-licence
roqr.brown1rbi.co.uI NORTH WESTERN TC Beverley Bell (right) has criticised the way other European countries apply safety standards to HGV operators after a case involving the UK arm of Dutch firm De Rooy.
She granted an 0-licence to Leyland, Lancs-based Intramast (UK) following a Warrington public inquiry, despite her concerns over the maintenance record of its Dutch parent company.
Dennis Smith. VOSA inspector, told the hearing that during the period between 2007 and 2009, his colleagues had discovered during UK roadside checks De Rooy vehicles with a range of problems, including brake defects, nonUK compliant trailer couplings, loose wheelnuts and smashed external and internal lights.
However. Smith added: "Intramast (UK) are a compliant company and are operating to standards significantly better than those to which De Rooy operates" TC Bell added: "There is an apparent disparity between the fleets regulated by me and those by my European counterparts It seems there is one standard for Britain and one for the rest of Europe."
She said it illustrated the need for more "joined-up regulation" on road transport matters between EU member states.
Dennis van Tilburg, director of Intramast (UK), as well as being a De Rooy employee, told the hearing that vehicles from Intramast had all their routine maintenance checks carried out in the UK.
He said the firm — which is involved in transporting trucks from the DAF factory in Leyland to continental Europe — had seen its volumes plummet by about 60% over the last two years due to the global recession.
Earlier this year, Intramast (UK) lost its previous 0-licence after it was found to have imported trucks from Holland on false registration plates (CM7 January).
TC Bell said she was now prepared to grant Intramast (UK) another chance, as previous director Jan De Rooy had stepped down to make way for new directors — van 'Tilburg and Peter Stott, a qualified transport manager.
TC Bell said she believed van Tilburg was a man "with whom she could do business" and granted the licence for the company to run eight vehicles and the same number of trailers, down from the firm's hoped-for figure of 20 vehicles and 20 trailers