How to stick the plate?
Page 27
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The flimsiness of the official plating certificates was criticized by Mr. L. J. Cotton, transport and materials handling adviser to Unilever Ltd., in London on Monday. He was speaking about "Vehicle testing" to the central London area of the Traders Road Transport Association.
Mr. Cotton praised the main features of the testing scheme which had been organized by the Ministry very rapidly, but there was some disappointment among operators that with a scheme costing about £8;rn to establish, and which would involve many firms in spending perhaps £40 per vehicle in preparation for testing, the end result was a "flimsy piece of paper in the thinnest possible plastic envelope". "We had expected a durable metal plate for riveting on the chassis. Now we shall ask the Ministry how it is supposed to be fixed to the vehicle", said Mr. Cotton.
The speaker referred to other features of testing which were worrying to operators. Many felt definite wear tolerances should be laid down, and there was regret that plating certificates were not to be required for road fund licence renewals.
The test application forms bore a warning that false particulars could result in a fine not exceeding £100 or 4 months' imprisonment or both. "If an operator measuring from the rear of the driver's cab to the centre line of the rear-most axle reads his tape measure wrongly, is he liable for heavy penalties?"
Wheel-span measurement between axles of semi-trailers was a problem because it had been found that the dimensions of some semi-trailers built by small firms varied appreciably from Standard Lists. Operators submit ting "basically standard vehicles" could be in a quandary as to the dimensions to record.
Mr. C. C. Toyne, superintendent engineer (mechanical), MoT, who was largely responsible for the layout and staffing of testing stations, said self-respecting transport managers should by now have seen the stations working and have submitted a vehicle for test. There was a reason for everything the Ministry had done, even if mistakes had been made. The spare lane for re-tests for use by non-standard vehicles had been called the "hard lane" to ease the job of getting financial sanction!
The contentious plating certificate was more durable than it looked, said Mr. Toyne. It could be boiled in water and being pliable was easily fixed to a curved surface. Advice on an effective adhesive would be furnished by the Ministry shortly. "I am surprised no one in the trade has yet produced a special holder", he concluded.
During an animated question session Mr. Toyne said he was sure operators prevented by fog or impossible weather conditions would be able to make a fresh appointment wihout having to pay a second fee. He confirmed that tools would not be available for the use of operators making minor rectifications.
To a questioner concerned with brake testing standards Mr, Toyne said "unbalanced brakes" were not designated in the Tester's Manual but if a brake on one axle had little or no retarding effect the vehicle or trailer concerned would be faulted. "We have not yet been able to determine the degree of imbalance that can be discerned on the road."