A Barnsley haulage company whose licence was suspended when it
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failed to appear before North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Brian Horner, has had the suspension extended until 5 January to enable it to prove that fresh maintenance arrangements are in place.
Horner had suspended Samurai Transport's Operator's Licence the previous week until a company representative appeared before him.
Vehicle examiner Keith Craven said that since April 1997 four immediate prohibitions had been imposed on the company's vehicles, two of which were for a significant maintenance failure. There had also been five delayed prohibitions and three variation notices. Five prohibitions and two variation notices had been issued since a previous public inquiry in March, when Samurai's 0-licence was cut from six to four vehicles.
The company's maintenance facilities were adequate and systems were in place, said Craven: the problem was the quality of the staff.
Director and transport manager Julie Jackson said the fitters had been dismissed and they were considering contracting out their maintenance. The drivers had also been sacked, leaving only her husband to drive. They planned to take on one more driver. Homer said he was not satisfied with the maintenance arrangements. Vehicles had been operated in an unsatisfactory condition: in some cases they were dangerous. If he was satisfied that there were fresh arrangements in place by 5 January he would curtail the licence to two vehicles. if not, he would revoke the licence.