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Inspection gaps cast shadow for Mayflower
Page 21
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Maintenance problems have resulted in the licence held by Okehampton-based Mayflower Transport being cut by a quar ter and suspended for seven days, The company, which specialises in the movement of mobile homes and portable school classrooms, had been called before the Western Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown at a Bristol disciplinary inquiry. It held a licence for eight vehicles and eight trailers.
Vehicle examiner Andrew Callaghan said that although the stated inspection period was six weeks, there were substantial gaps of eight to 16 weeks in the records for which no explanation could be given.
There had been a particular problem with the brakes of one trailer which was given a delayed prohibition in March 2002. When submitted for clearance it failed on seven occasions but it was finally discovered that there was a fundamental problem in the way the brakes had been set up.
Since this incident there had been no further prohibitions. The main concern was the company's annual test record.
Director and transport manager Malcolm Packam said there had been difficulties with the company's own maintenance staff and this had now been contracted out. He claimed that some of the large gaps in the inspection records were due to vehicles being off the road. He felt that the pass rate at annual test would now improve.
"I am confident we will not be back in another 12 months," Packham said. "I have woken up and I now monitor things myself. One problem is attitude. Staff do not want to work weekends, so the only resource is to go outside for maintenance," In reply to the IC, Packham said that between May and September were their busy months and there was always a need for a spare vehicle.
Asked how far the company had to plan ahead, Packham said that it was often six months with business contracts, including a caravan show.
Cutting the licence to six vehicles and six trailers, and directing that the suspension period be completed by the end of September, the TO said that clearly some effort had been made to put matters right but only some two or three weeks ago.
He directed that a further investigation be carried out by the VI within six months to check that all the improvements promised had been brought into effect.