'Bad case' 27 removed
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A company which was granted an 0 licence without any check being made on its vehicle preventive maintenance and inspection arrangements had its licence curtailed, by nearly half, by the West Midland LA, Mr John Else, at Birmingham recently, when he removed 27 vehicles, 20 trailers, and a further seven vehicles and eight trailers which had been authorized on the licence to be acquired.
The company, Cartwright Transport Ltd, of Wolverhampton, had been called before Mr Else under section 69(1) of the Transport Act 1968 following a fleet inspection in September and October 1970.
The court heard that the company's vehicles had been issued with 17 immediate and 27 delayed GV9s since 1967. It had also been prosecuted for offences concerning the Construction and Use Regulations and overloading.
Mr A. Perry, vehicle examiner, said that between September 24 and October 9 he had inspected 19 vehicles and four trailers. Of these six attracted immediate and four delayed GV9s.
For the company, Mr N. Carless said that although the company had reasonable maintenance facilities and arrangements they had not been put to the best of use. Since the examiner's visit stronger arrangements had been made.
The company director and secretary, Mr A. Taylor, said in evidence that he felt a certain amount of the blame should be put on management problems. He explained that after the death of his mother in April, who originally managed the business, there was some difficulty as to who was in charge of the company. Mr Taylor also blamed older vehicles for causing the trouble. Some, he said, had been kept too long because of rapid expansion, but now these were being replaced by heavy articulated type vehicles.
On making his decision Mr Else said: "I regard this as a bad case".