Faulty brake linings blamed
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• Gloucester tipper operator Mervyn Freeman blamed a batch of faulty brake linings for an immediate prohibition imposed on one of his vehicles when he appeared before Western Deputy Licensing Authority John Robins at a Cheltenahm public inquiry.
The DLA decided to take no action against Freeman's licence for five vehicles and one trailer, but he did issue him with a warning and he refused to grant an application for an extra vehicle.
Evidence was given by a vehicle examiner that the prohibition had been imposed during a fleet inspection in August which was carried out at 10 days' notice. The brake linings on one of the second axle wheels were excessively worn and there were also two less serious defects. A further four defects were discovered when the vehicle was presented for clearance. Inspections were said to be erratic, with gaps of up to 12 weeks.
Freeman maintained that the brake linings on the vehicle in question had been replaced only 6,000 miles before it was prohibited. He said he expected brake linings to last 50,000 miles. A similar problem had arisen on three other occasions; what was happening was that the linings were coming loose and breaking up. Freeman had a letter from the manufacturer saying that it had experienced problems with a riveter.
The company's maintenance system had been completely reorganised since the vehicle examiner's visit.
Robins indicated he would give favourable consideration to an extra vehicle on the renewal of the licence, provided that a further maintenance check proved satisfactory.