Vehicles cut for maintenance
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• Maintenance problems at Pontypridd-based M&E Bin Hire resulted in its licence being cut from four to two vehicles at a Cardiff disciplinary inquiry before South Wales Deputy Traffic Commissioner Alun Jenkins.
Vehicle examiner Steve Cooke said he inspected two of the company's vehicles in June, imposing immediate prohibitions for significant maintenance failures. The company had been given two days' notice of his visit.
One vehicle had loose U-bolts and it was obvious that after a new spring had been fitted the vehicle had not been recalled for the U-bolts to be tightened. Six wheelnuts were loose on the second vehicle; there was excessive spring anchor pin movement and problems with the load-sensing valve. All the defects were long standing and dangerous, said Cooke.
The maintenance records were unsatisfactory, there was no written drivers' daily nil reporting system and no forward planner for maintenance.
For the company, Paul Carless said its vehicles were maintained by a contractor in adjacent premises and the company had been happy with his services until the vehicle examiner's visit.
Director Ernest Humphreys said the company had held licences since carrier licensing days and this was the first time it had been called to a public inquiry. He was embarrassed and shocked to be told a vehicle had eight defects.
One vehicle had been prepared for annual test and had passed first time. He hoped to have the second vehicle tested the following week. The Deputy TC ordered the company to reduce the period between inspections from six to four weeks, to introduce a proper driver defect reporting system, to attend a new-operator seminar and to have the second vehicle tested within a fortnight.