1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184 
MD 'reads the riot act over maintenance problems
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The introduction of computerised maintenance systems have spared a high-profile operator from disciplinary action. Mike Jewell reports.
A LARGE North Yorkshire operator has escaped from a public inquiry with a warning over maintenance after its MD said he had "read the riot act" to his transport manager and fleet engineer. North Yorkshire reefer specialist Reed Boardall was called to a Leeds disciplinary inquiry following multiple problems with vehicle maintenance.
The Boroughbridge-based firm, which runs 180 trucks, escaped with only a warning after NorthEastern Deputy TC Elizabeth Perrett said she was impressed by the steps that had been taken to rectify the problems.
Vehicle examiner Simon Smith said that he had carried out a maintenance investigation in July following the issue of an S-marked prohibition indicating a significant maintenance failing.
He found inspection intervals had been exceeded by up to 13 weeks. The forward-planning system was inadequate and there were problems with drivers' first-use checks.
However, the initial pass rate at annual test was sig nificantly higher than the national average and Smith considered that the company's plans for a computerised system to co-ordinate maintenance and inspections with increased driver training would deal with the problems he had found.
MD Thomas Cassells said he had been shocked and disappointed by what the vehicle examiner's investigation had revealed. He had immediately -read the riot act" to the transport manager and the fleet engineer. "I'm very embarrassed to be here and 1 give the Deputy Commissioner my word that I will not be here again," he said.
Transport manager Denzil Cooke said he had also been deeply shocked and embarrassed, and promised he would not take his eye off the ball again.
The DTC said a lot of work had been done since the vehicle examiner's visit and the firm had clearly learned a salutary lesson.