fabitual overloading and ite-cutting condemned by Vestem LA
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a strongly worded written decision the Western LA has refused the long outding Contract A renewal bid by Stoke Michael Transport Co. Ltd. The corny sought to operate two vehicles from quarry of John Wainwright and Co. Ltd.
the bid was heavily opposed. MMERCIAL MOTOR, April 1). The LA has :ed to allow the current short-term ice to run its course to enable the parties make alternative arrangements if .tssary.
,fter the test weighing of a Ford Trader cle (COMMERCIAL MOTOR, May 27) the invited both sides to comment on the Its. The decision records that the applis conceded that "at most the maximum 1 carrying capacity of their vehicle" (as nguished from that actually weighed) ild not have been more than about 8+ ", and they also agreed that the standard ying capacity should be fixed at 8 tons nsure that overloading could not occur. he LA stresses that the failure of nwrights to send a witness "able mially to assist the court" made "a most
unfavourable impression on my mind". He was not satisfied that Wainwrights had entered into a contract with the applicants.
As regards rates paid, into which the LA probed deeply, he concluded that the gross earnings were achieved only at the cost of a substantial element of unlawful operation. He did not accept Mr. Massey's evidence that he did not know the costs of his tipper operations and the LA concludes that this "persistent charging of uneconomic rates placed other licence holders at an undue or unfair disadvantage in competing with him as respects the carriage of goods by road is beyond all doubt".
Though not a ground for his decision, the LA records his concern at evidence regarding a vehicle working for Wainwrights which, when loaded overnight and with a single driver, made two journeys to Odiham and back in a day, with an overall mileage of 310. Because of suggestions that other operators are doing this, and the LA's doubts as to the legality of such operations, he has referred the matter to his enforcement staff for investigation.