Licence cut over faults
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• Manchesterbased farmer and waste disposal contractor Philip Dickinson was warned that he was very close to losing his licence when North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Alan Cattell suspended it for one month on 10 October.
Cattell also cut the licence from four vehicles to three.
Department of Transport vehicle examiner Keith Craven said that of 12 prohibitions issued between 1992 and 1996, five had been endorsed "S" (significant maintenance failure). He examined three vehicles in July, issuing one delayed prohibition and three defect notices.
Two of the vehicles had recently been repaired following immediate prohibitions in June. One was still being operated two days after an immediate prohibition in March. The same vehicle was twice refused clearance.
Craven said that Dickinson operated no forward planning system and drivers reported
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defects verbally. Maintenance facilities were very basic, with no pit or hoist. Dickinson and his two sons carded out maintenance despite none of them being qualified mechanics.
Dickinson agreed that the dangers of doing a job they were not qualified for had become very apparent. They tried to inspect the vehicles monthly and had got a forward planner from CM last week, which they had put on the wall. He was planning to replace the three older vehicles next year.
Dickinson said the prohibited vehicle had been used while his son was away and he had not been aware of its status. Once they had moved into a new yard, one of his sons would go on a vehicle inspector's course.
Suspending the licence, Cattell ordered Dickinson to contract his maintenance out and to put the three remaining vehicles through fresh annual tests.