Good repute 'tarnished'
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• Deputy North Eastern Licensing Authority Brian Horner has taken no action against the lcence of Bradford haulier Paul Clayton, as his seven-vehicle licence expires at the end of the month.
Clayton and four drivers were ordered to pay £1,625 in fines and costs by Bradford magistrates after admitting a series of drivers hours and tachograph offences (CM 22 Feb-4 Mar).
DOT vehicle examiner David Howram said that in January 1992 a vehicle had been issued with an immediate prohibition. The declared maintenance contractor was not being used, inspection records were unsatisfactory and drivers were reporting defects verbally. His impression was that vehicles were being sent to a local garage as and when defects occurred.
Clayton said vehicles were now being inspected every six to eight weeks under a new maintenance contract. Inspec tions records had been sorted out. He gave an undertaking that duplicate driver defect report books would be used.
Clayton said that the drivers hours and tachograph offences had occurred as he had not been regularly checking the tachograph records. They were now inspected regularly and breaches of the regulations resulted in warnings, eventually leading to the dismissal of drivers.
When asked about two dishonoured cheques for vehicle excise duty, Clayton said that at the time the banks had been getting tighter. This year the financial position was better, overheads had been cut and there had been negotiations with the bank.
Homer said that he did not consider Clayton had lost his good repute, but it was somewhat tarnished. When his renewal application was processed he would be called to a meeting in chambers to check that he had met all the assurances given.