Vehicle suspended over maintenance
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• A Manchester scrap metal company had one of its two vehicles suspended for a month when it appeared at its second disciplinary inquiry within 18 months.
Bob Duckworth & Co, of Failsworth, appeared before North Western Traffic Commissioner Keith Waterworth at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.
The company held a restricted licence authorising the operation of two vehicles. Three delayed prohibitions had been issued since the company had received a formal warning at a previous public inquiry in October 1995.
Vehicle examiner Keith Craven said he had inspected both vehicles in January. issuing a delayed prohibition for a loose wheelnut and two defect notices.
There were only four inspection records for one vehicle and three for the other, said Craven. One vehicle went as long as six months between inspections and the other 12 weeks.
Manager and principle shareholder Geoff Howarth said the problem was more a lack of paperwork rather than a failure to have the work done. They had acquired the company in 1994.
His brother, who was experi enced in transport and was to have run the business, became ill and had died at the end of last year.
Water worth said it was clear the company had been complacent over maintenance and it had taken action only when the enforcement agency "snapped at its heels". That was not acceptable.