Pugh gives last warning has had its licence suspension lifted
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by West Midland Licensing Authority John Mervyn Pugh after the company managed to put its five vehicles and one trailer through MOT tests in less than a week.
When the Hereford-based company appeared before the LA last week, DOT vehicle examiner John House said that a vehicle had been given an immediate prohibition in February endorsed "neglect". During a subsequent maintenance investigation he discovered the inspection pit blocked with bales of straw. Delayed prohibitions were issued to a vehicle and trailer. No maintenance records could be produced for one vehicle and the driver's daily nil defect reporting system was not being operated as it should.
In May a vehicle was issued with an immediate prohibition and there was concern about the poor condition of vehicles presented for annual test.
This was the company's fifth
r.„
AA
appearance at a public inquiry. For the company, Michael Carless said the problem was that the fitter was ill at the start of the year and nobody realised it. Since then inspections had been contracted out at four-weekly intervals.
Director Michael Ball said that he was trying to get the job right. He was confident that the vehicles were getting right. If the licence was lost the company would fold.
When he suspended the licence, Mervyn Pugh had said it was a sorry state of affairs. Ball started off with good intentions and then fell by the wayside. He was slowly coining to the end of his haulage days. He was giving Ball a chance to put his house in order but there was no guarantee that he would be allowed to continue.
It was a sad day but Ball had brought it all upon himself.
When the hearing was continued this week, Ball said he had told a driver who had refused to put in daily nil defect reports that his licence was on the line. The man concerned would have to sign the sheets in future or he would not be paid.
Renewing the licence for 12 months only, Mervyn Pugh said the only time he wanted to see Ball again was when the licence came up for renewal. He did not want to see him over maintenance ever again. If he did, it would be the end.
Ball had been slipshod and had allowed his employees to tell him what to do.