No wilful failure decides LA
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• Giving his decision in a case of an operator called to public inquiry under Section 69 in Plymouth, the Western Traffic LA, Maj-Gen Sir John Potter, said that while he was satisfied that there was no wilful failure, he would nevertheless, not hesitate to revoke or suspend any licence if he felt that hours, records and overloading offences were the result of sheer neglect, whatever the consequences such a decision might have on the company or its employees.
Mr R. J. Collyer, transport manager for Robert Hartnell Ltd, of Bodmin, said that following the convictions for drivers hours and records offences, two drivers had been dismissed. Under a new system for loading from the Bodmin end it was now impossible for vehicles to leave overloaded, but they were still experiencing some difficulty with return loads, although drivers were under specific instructions to take the vehicle to the nearest weighbridge if there was the slightest doubt.
Deciding to give no direction under Section 69, the LA said he was satisfied that the system, generally, had been tightened up following the convictions.