Record forms are evidence
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Operators who drove their own vehicles often made the mistake of thinking they did not need to keep maintenance records, said North Western Deputy TC Patrick Mulvenna, But records were evidence the job was being done properly, and saved a lot of time and trouble in the long run, The Deputy TG was considering an application by Carnforthbased DIX Herterich to increase its licence from two to four vehicles. Mulvenna told a Trafford public inquiry that the firm had been called before him because a vehicle examiner had reported that its maintenance records were not satisfactory.
Jonathan Lawton, for Herterich, said the vehicles had always been in a very good condition. The firm comprised a father and son driving their own vehicles, They protected their own lives by ensuring the trucks were safe, but had not bothered too much about records.
Derek Herterich told the inquiry the maintenance was now contracted out to a commercial garage, and he was prepared to have the vehicles inspected every six weeks, as suggested. They were members of the Freight Transport Association and had obtained the required documents to keep the records up to date. They had also begun to use daily nil defect report forms.
Granting the increase, the Deputy TO said he would ask the VI to carry out a further investigation in six months' time.