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Maintenance failings Lead to 0-licence cut

18th March 2010, Page 22
18th March 2010
Page 22
Page 22, 18th March 2010 — Maintenance failings Lead to 0-licence cut
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Keywords : Car Safety

Operator with nine prohibitions and a first-time failure rate at annual test of 85% forces DTC to act.

AN OPERATOR with an 85% firsttime failure rate at annual vehicle test has had its 0-licence reduced.

Overloading offences, using an unauthorised operating centre and a "non-existentmaintenance regime all contributed to the penalty.

Preston-based builders merchants Martin Edwards (RBM) had its licence authorisation cut from four vehicles and two trailers to three vehicles and two trailers bv the North-Western Deputy Traffic commissioner, Simon Evans.

Vehicle examiner Neil Mitchell told the DTC he conducted a maintenance investigation in July 2009. One of the vehicles was based at an unauthorised operating centre at Carnforth. Lanes. He inspected two vehicles and issued two delayed prohibitions for brake faults. Maintenance was now carried out in-house, but the change had not been notified. Inspection records were unsatisfactory with the stated inspection period of six weeks sometimes missed resulting in intervals of up to 12 weeks.

In addition, there was no written driver defect reporting system, and there was a high first-time annual vehicle test failure rate.

Nine prohibitions had been issued over the past five years. In every case. a variation and refusal notice was issued when the vehicle was presented for prohibition clearance.

Managing director Edward Carson said maintenance had been taken inhouse three years ago. He had relied on the firm's mechanic to keep things going — the vehicles got a fair bit of wear and tear due to the sites they visited.

That said, maintenance was now contracted out, and there was also a written driver defect reporting system.

Carnforth had been an additional operating centre authorised under a licence held by a previous partnership.

When Carson's partner retired, he sent in a new licence application, and it was an oversight that Carnforth was left out. It was revealed that vehicles were rarely kept there now.

Asked about overloading convictions, for which the firm was tined .050 in May 2006 and .£2,000 in November 2007, Carson said they carried different materials and had problems getting the axle weights right because there are few public weighbridges these days.

Weighing equipment had now been installed in the company yard that could weigh up to two tonnes on a pallet.

After the DTC described the maintenance regime as non-existent before the examiner's visit. Carson said the vehicles were being maintained. He gave a number of undertakings in relation to the company's maintenance regime. including an audit by a trade association within 90 days.


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