L.A.'s Concern Over Maintenance
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BUCKINGHAMSHIRE haulier with fl 13 vehicles was told by the East Midlands Licensing Authority, Mr. C. R. Hodgson, that it was about time he had some proper covered maintenance facilities. This was during a Section 187 inquiry at Aylesbury last week. Mr. Hodgson was also hearing an application by the operator, E. R. J. Benyon, of Little Kimble, to vary a B licence by the addition of two vehicles.
After evidence of need was given by two customer witnesses, a Ministry vehicle examiner told the Authority that only one man was employed full time to carry out repairs to the fleet. There was no organized maintenance system and no cover under which repairs could be carried out. G.V.9s that had been issued in respect of several of the vehicles could have been avoided had there been a programme of preventive maintenance, he added.
Granting the additional vehicles, Mr. Hodgson said that although he considered the state of the vehicles to be disturbing, he would let the question of maintenance rest for now but would go into the matter again when the licences came up for renewal. Mr. Hodgson gave a serious warning about the breach of licence conditions which had been mentioned earlier during the hearing. Mr. Hodgson also warned a Leighton Buzzard operator to be careful about drivers' records. The company, Frederick Ray Ltd., had been called upon to show cause why its A licences should not be revoked, suspended or curtailed under Section 178 of the 1960 Road Traffic Act. The hearing also concerned the continuation of the licences.
After figures of earnings had been submitted by Mr. M. H. Jackson-Lipkin on behalf of Frederick Ray, a report of the operator's previous conduct was read out; this mentioned convictions, most of which were attributable to drivers' records and drivers working long hours with no proper rest periods.
Mr. H. B. G. Green, transport manager of the company, said that notices had been put in driver's cabs and stuck into the inside covers of their log books. He had, in addition, called a m,eeting of his drivers and pointed out the importance of their rendering correct records, failure of which could jeopardize the position of the company.
Giving his decision, Mr. Hodgson said that he sympathized with the company, which had tried to do something to keep their men in order. He accepted what had been said on behalf of the company in mitigation and granted the continua.) non of the licences.