Condition of trailer doubted
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• Trailers that are being pulled have to be in good condition, even if they do not belong to the haulier concerned_ North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Brian Horner gave this warning when Pontefractbased haulier Christopher Sutton sought to increase the authorisation on his licence from one vehicle and one trailer to two vehicles and two trailers.
Vehicle examiner Michael Welford said that he had imposed a delayed prohibition on a semitrailer for five items. U-bolts were loose, the cords were exposed on the nearside outer tyre, three chassis crossmembers were fractured and there were two brake defects.
No inspection records were available for the trailer. The vehicle operated was not inspected as it was undergoing repair. Inspection sheets were not being completed in full and the inspection interval of six weeks was trailers were inspected.
Horner said Sutton had to know what the maintenance system for the trailer was. It was Sutton's licence. Even if the trailer was hired in, Sutton was responsible for the trailer's condition. If his vehicle was pulling a trailer he was responsible for it.
Though granting the increased authorisation, Horner directed that the licence terminate early, at the end of December 1994. He indicated that a full fleet inspection would be required before renewal. He would say now that if that inspection proved unsatisfactory, the licence without doubt would be revoked.