Dangerous logs lead to suspended 0-licence
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TC hands out three-week suspension to Highland Car Crushers after it failed to secure a trailer of logs safely.
INVERNESS HAULIER Highland Car Crushers has had its 0-licence temporarily suspended after one of its trucks was discovered with such a badly secured trailer of logs it could have caused a "catastrophic" accident.
In a written decision following a public inquiry in Inverness, Traffic Commissioner (TC) for Scotland. Joan Aitken, suspended the firm's licence for three weeks, and also banned the company — authorised to run nine trucks and nine trailers — from any expansion for 18 months.
Police traffic officers told the inquiry in July they saw the vehicle on the busy A9 road at North Kessock, Invernessh i re on 8 December 2009 pulling a full load of timber.
Aitken said: "It appeared to the officers that the load had shifted forward and logs were protruding from the sides. It was their view that if any of the logs had fallen from the vehicle, the consequences would have been catastrophic.
The -rc banned the driver of the timber truck. William Hay of Ardersier. Invemesshire. from driving trucks for four weeks, saying he should not have gone out with that particular load.
Hay has already been prosecuted and fined in Dingwall Sheriff Court and had three penalty points put on his licence.
Aitken also heard evidence from a VOSA vehicle examiner about a previous encounter with the company when a skip had not been secured to a trailer.
The -rc criticised the attitude to road safety of Hunter Fraser — direct( of Highland Car Crushers. She sai "There cannot be chances with safe and loadings. Safety must CON before profit."
Regarding the other compar director. Sinclair Fraser, Aitken addc "Mr Sinclair Fraser has said he has bet terrified by this incident. I am terrific whenever I have to hear evidence stx as I heard in this case."
The TC warned the company it coul lose its 0-licence altogether if thei was any further evidence of unsai operating.