Vehicle maintenance: 2
Page 67
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
y Les Oldridge, T Eng (CEO, AMIRTE
4 THE LAST article (CM, ovember 24), vehicle mainteance procedures provided by le holders of 0 licences to Aisfy the requirements of the icensing Authority were disissed. It is extremely important lat all the maintenance work is roperly recorded so that a implete history of each vehicle
available. Generally, iechanics dislike paperwork; I ippose if they were interested
it they would be clerks and pt fitters, so it is necessary for iy system to be simple in yout and each form easy to rnplete.
An adequate filing system is acessary so that the file for any 3rticular vehicle can be found id produced at short notice. le complexity of the system ill depend on the size of the 3et. For two or three vehicles a 3X file will suffice; for a large aet, a filing cabinet will be 3cessary.
Whatever system is adopted, ie records for any particular ahicle must come readily to and. A vehicle examiner is pund to be impressed if this is le case, particularly if he finds le records absolutely up to date id that the actual condition of le vehicles is compatible with le records concerning them.
The maintenance pro'amme must be planned. For a nall fleet, a blackboard on the orkshop wall with all the ;hicle numbers and inspection ries written in chalk will suf3e.
A variety of systems have ;en devised for larger fleets; a iinagraph board on which rious symbols can be stuck to dicate different grades of in)ection is an attractive method .ovided by one of the oil corn;nies.
Whatever system is used, the )ynote should be simplicity id it should always show when le last inspection for each ihicle took place and when the ;xt one is due. To summarise, the following documents are required: (1) An inspection sheet for the use of the mechanic who carries out the preventive maintenance inspection. On this sheet there must be provisions for the mechanic to indicate the condition of each component he inspects and whether or not any work on it is necessary.
(2) A works sheet to show the remedial work which has been carried out on those components indicated as faulty by the inspector.
(3) A driver's defect report form.
(4) A programme board showing when each vehicle in the fleet had its last inspection and when another one is due.
(5) A file cover to contain all the documents relating to each vehicle.
If an operator contracts out his inspection and repair work he is still responsible for the condition of his vehicles. He must keep inspection sheets provided by the garage and bills showing full details of the remedial work carried out.
As well as the requirements of the LA respecting vehicle maintenance, the Motor Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations 1978 lists a number of offences which may be committed if vehicles are not properly maintained. These, of course, relate not only to goods vehicles used under an 0-licence, but to all types of vehicle.
The Regulations require speedometers, brakes, steering, seat belt and their anchorage points, windscreen wipers and tyres to be maintained in good and efficient working order.
Regulation 100 requires that glass, or other transparent material fitted to vehicles, be maintained so that it does not obscure the vision of the driver. Petrol tanks fitted to vehicles must be maintained so that they are reasonably secure against damage and so that any leakage of vapour or liquid from them is adequately prevented (Regulation 104).
Regulation 105 requires that lighting equipment and reflectors be maintained by day so that the vehicle can be legally used at night.
Vehicles must be so maintained that smoke, visible vapour, grit, sparks, ashes, cinders or oily substance is not emitted so as to cause damage to property or injury to any person who is actually at the time or who reasonably may be expected on the road or so that danger is likely to be caused to any person.
Danger is caused when the smoke from an exhaust is so dense as to obscure the view of drivers wishing to overtake the offending vehicle. Damage could be caused, I suppose, an oily exhaust soiling a lad) summer dress. Danger can al be caused if oil is spilt from vehicle on to the road causii the road to become slippery that vehicles are likely to sk (Regulation 109).
The device whereby crar case vapour is consumed by t engine must be maintained good condition (Regulatir 112).
Silencers must maintained in good and officio working order and not be alter' so that the noise from tl exhaust is louder (Regulatir 106).
Regulation 97 covers ai dangerous defect in a vehic which is not covered by specific regulation. Basically requires the vehicle and all parts and accessories, its loa including any passengers, to I in such a condition that r danger is caused, or is likely be caused, to any person carril on or in the vehicle or on a roa The Regulation covers al defect or condition which is n covered by a specific regulati( — a cracked chassis member, broken spring, or a faulty do catch are the types of vehic defects which come under tt regulation.
Poor maintenance, whi( allows a vehicle on a road with split wing with its jagged ed( facing forwards so as to be like to catch in a pedestrian's cl thing, a driver's seat not fa tened properly to the floor, badly worn fifth wheel, sla wheel nuts, or faulty trailer co piing, are further exarnplr which may lead to a summoi under Regulation 97.
Any prosecution taken und this section must be able prove that danger was caused was likely to be caused. For i stance, it is no offence to use shabby rusty van provided th the rust in no way affect( roadworthiness. Rust in tf centre of a door panel wou probably not be an offence, b bad corrosion around a sprir hanger certainly would be.