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IC to decide whether textile firm is really based in Poland
Page 21
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Allegations that a Northampton haulier had based its operations in Poland led to the company appearing before Eastern Traffic Commissioner Geoffrey Simms. JT Raca International, which holds a licence for four vehicles and four trailers, appeared at a Cambridge disciplinary inquiry.
Vehicle examiner Christopher Barnett said that he had made several attempts to inspect the company's vehicles. Eventually he examined a vehicle and trailer at the beginning of October, imposing an immediate prohibition on the trailer because the parking brake did not meat minimum requirements.
The tractor was left-hand drive and the Polish driver was unable to speak English. He was told that the inspection records were initially completed in Polish and then translated into English.
There were no trailer identification numbers entered and in many cases the mileage was missing. The driver defect reports were in Polish, which he could not understand.
Barnett reported that the company's three vehicles had all failed their annual test on first presentation and one vehicle needed four attempts before passing. He did not consider the operating centre to be big enough to park three 38tonne outfits and the smaller vehicle, but admitted he was unaware of an area at the rear of the site where vehicles could be parked.
Managing director Jozef Raca said the company mane
factured textile garments in Poland for the LK market. The vehicles had been maintained by main dealers in Poland for the past 10 months, because of difficulties in getting them inspected in the LK due to the delivery cycle, which meant they were only in this country for 48 hours every 12-14 days.
New arrangements had now been made for the vehicles to be maintained in the LK. He added that a letter he had written to the Traffic Area saying that the vehicles were permanently operated in Poland and Lithuania and were maintained at their base in Poland had been badly phrased.
Their base was actually in Northampton, where he had been in business since 1957. All the administration was carried out at Northampton and it was from there that drivers were given their instructions.
The TC is to announce his decision in writing.