Tipper Sub-contractors Unreliable—Haulier rLAIM1NG that sub-contractors had 1 .--• proved unreliable and
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inefficient, John Hutchinson and Son (Haulage). Ltd., Dunfermline, last week asked the Scottish Licensing Authority to add five tippers to their B licence. Mr. Tom Brown, traffic manager, said he had found difficulty in ensuring that sub-contractors were working within the terms of their licences.
The need for tippers in West Fife was being largely met by Hutchinson's, and there was a large number of schemes in the area which required these vehicles. Four of the tippers in question were already on short-term B licences, and the other was on C licence.
Conditions sought were " quarry work, agricultural produce and requisites, coal and building plant and materials within 25 miles." Decision was reserved for the Authority to read a Transport Tribunal case concerning sub-contractors.
CARAVAN BOOM BAFFLES MR. RANDOLPFI
HEARING that 14.000 new caravans would be produced this year, Mr. J. H. E. Randolph, Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, said last week that he could not understand where they were all going. He granted an application by Mr. J. W. Richardson, York, for the addition of towing and carriage of caravans as required" to the conditions of his B licence.
Mr. R. Paterson, for the applicant, said he had two vehicles licensed for towing .caravans, restricted to a radius of 25 miles. The demand for his services was increasing daily, and a great deal of empty running could be put to good use. Last year the two vehicles completed 30,000 miles of running empty.
Mr. Richardson wanted to haul caravans from the manufacturers to their agents as return loads. It was significant, added Mr. Paterson, that there were no road objectors, as there was usually strong opposition to an application of this type.
BENCH TOLD OF AXLE-WEIGHT ANOMALY
ALTHOUGH a vehicle operated by Dunning and Sons, Ltd., Hednesford, was theoretically allowed to carry 9-10 tons. the regulations governing axle weights reduced this to 74-8 tons, Rugeley magistrates heard last week.
Either the regulation has got to be amended, or the manufacturers of most commercial vehicles in this country must modify their products," said Mr. Kenneth Mynett., defending, when the company admitted using a four-wheeler with more than 9 tons transmitted ,to the, road surface by one axle.
Mr. Mynett said the company had tested similar vehicles of four other wellknown makes and the same position arose. When the maximum legal payload was carried, the back axle was too heavily laden.
The magistrates imposed a nominal fine of LI, with £2 2s. costs.