Maintenance hits licence
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• Maintenance and its administration had been sadly neglected by DJ Transport (Littlehorough), said North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner John Levin as he cut its licence authorisation from seven vehicles and four trailers to four vehicles and two trailers.
Vehicle examiner Ivan Coupe told a Manchester disciplinary inquiry that when he examined two vehicles in January both were given immediate prohibition notices.
Inspection records were often not properly completed and there were gaps of up to 13 weeks between inspections, added Coupe. He said eight prohibitions had been imposed on the Rochdale-based company's vehicles since January 1993.
Director Dennis Price said he had put his trust in the company's fitter but had been let down. The fitter concerned had been replaced only a matter of days before the vehicle examiner's visit, he added.
The firm had previously used a weekly sheet for drivers to report defects but had now instituted duplicate books and in future drivers would make nil defect reports.
After Price had produced a let ter that had been sent to the company's drivers, Levin said Price was responsible for drivers mistakes. Levin added that Price must ensure his drivers got the message and suggested that twoline letters might be better than long ones, which drivers might just throw away. Price should get the message across verbally and reinforce it with notices in the cab, said Levin.
After Coupe had said he did not know whether Price had a disciplinary procedure or not. Price told the inquiry: "I have, it's called the sack!"
Price said that in the past he had let the fitters get on with it and assumed they were doing their job. He said he had learnt his lesson and he now kept an eye on what was being done. Proper records had been kept since the new fitter had been employed.
For the company, Fred Randle said matters had improved since the new fitter had been taken on. Randle had been engaged to visit the company every three months to see that it was keeping to the right lines.
Levin warned the company but said the indications were that it was now taking the matter seriously. He said that he would ask the vehicle examiner to pay another visit in six months' time.