Celtic gains extra vehicles
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• West Wales haulage contractor Celtic European Freight has succeeded in a bid to triple its 0-licence authorisation despite attracting five prohibition notices in its first 18 months of trading.
The Llanelli-based company was applying to increase its licence authority from one vehicle and trailer to three vehicles and trailers before South Wales Deputy Traffic Commissioner Roger Seymour at a Cardiff public inquiry Seymour was told the company had an excellent maintenance record with its tractor but had been let down by an Irish firm's trailers. Two prohibition notices were issued on the same day and the company had ditched its Irish partner, said director Barry Vehicle examiner Keith John said a maintenance investigation in October was satisfactory but a roadside check had led to a prohibition for a braking defect on a trailer which was being hauled by Celtic's tractor unit.
It was not the worst case he had seen but the prohibition rate was unsatisfactory, said John. An operator should not be picking up prohibitions in its first year.
Williams said that one of the prohibitions was for a partially seized load sensing valve. The driver, who had no mechanical training, had not appreciated that it could be easily corrected with a replacement spring valued at just 2p.
A prohibition for defective lights had been caused by a driver blowing a fuse while making a cup of tea.
If the increase was granted, used Volvo tractors would be
bought and new trailers would be hired from a reputable firm, said Williams.
Granting the increase with a warning, Seymour called for a further maintenance investigation in six months.