Resources stretched to the limit
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• A Birmingham company has been given a severe warning by West Midland Deputy Traffic Commissioner Roger Seymour after he commented that its resources seemed to be stretched to the limit.
Slades of Streetly. of Vv'itton, holds a licence for 11 vehicles and six trailers. It was called before the DTC because of concerns over maintenance.
Managing director Cohn Whitehead said two of the prohibitions issued related to trailers belonging to S Jones (Aldridge) and the Transport Development Group: Slades has contracts with both. Drivers were told to check trailers that did not belong to the company for visible defects before hauling them.
They tried to turn out smart vehicles and drivers. He did not expect drivers to crawl under vehicles as he wanted them to look smart.
In reply to the DTC, Whitehead said maintenance was handled by two mobile mechanics in the evening and at weekends; he and a warehouseman lent a hand when necessary The company did not have an inspection pit but had the use of one belonging to a neighbouring firm.
Seymour said that for a fleet of 11 vehicles the maintenance support did not seem professional. It looks a little bit make and mend," he said. "The fact is you don't have a specialised dedicat
ed maintenance support system for what is now a significant fleet."
Seymour was also concerned about vehicle excise duty He was not saying the company had deliberately run vehicles without tax but, because of oversights, the offences had happened.
He felt it was an indication that the company was over-stretched.
Whitehead was endeavouring to run a professional business but right on the margin. There was a very fine dividing line between keeping the show on the road and dipping below the line where control was lost.
Calling for an unannounced full maintenance investigation check out within six months, Seymour said Whitehead needed to think about whether he was stretching resources a bit thin. He felt Whitehead should consider installing an inspection pit and employing a full-time mechanic.