Haulier more concerned Over 0 licence than fine
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• The failure of the offside rear wheel assembly of a six-wheeled lorry, converted from a four-wheeler, was due to a fitter's oversight and not mechanical failure, Pontefract magistrates were told last week.
James Booth (Bolton) Ltd, Bolton, and one of its drivers, Mr F. MuIlan, were both charged with using a vehicle with defective parts in Wragby, on April 4.
Evidence was given that the police found the vehicle, which was laden with steel slag, jacked up and with the wheel assembly parted from it. Upon inspection it was found that all 10 stud holes of the outer wheel were polished through the nuts being loose and five of the studs were badly worn and elongated. Studs found in the roadway were twisted, stretched and torn.
When driver Mullan was asked for a statement he said he would probably lose his job although the studs had been checked and were tight.
Mr J. S. Lawton, defending, said it was a case where the damage was caused by the replacement of the wheel assembly by a fitter which meant that although the studs could be secured tightly, there was nothing to prevent lateral movement of the wheel with a resultant rapid failure of the studs.
The driver could not be held responsible as he would be able to tighten the studs without any indication that anything was wrong. The company accepted it was responsible for the errors of its employees but the mistake could not have been spotted without the removal of the wheel.
Mechanical failures did happen with the best maintained vehicles and despite close supervision. The company was more concerned about the effect a conviction could have on its 0 licence than the amount of any possible fine.
The magistrates found the case proved and fined the company £20 but gave driver Mullan an absolute discharge.