Convictions went unreported
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• North Wes
alp Authority Martin
tern Licensing Albu took no ac tion against Heanor Haulage Co when it appeared at a public inquiry for the third time in six years.
Albu renewed the company's international licence for 31 vehicles and 62 trailers. It had been called to a disciplinary inquiry because of a failure to report a number of convictions to the LA.
For Heanor, Ian Rothera said many of the convictions dealt with at the first public inquiry had related to the operation of tippers. It was clear that the tipper fleet would be disposed of and Heanor Haulage was now principally a heavy haulage company. About two years ago the company found itself facing maintenance problems.
That led to the second public inquiry and a number of steps were taken to improve maintenance procedures.
The convictions which had led to the current proceedings did not establish any pattern, said R o thera. Despite the best procedures things could go wrong, particularly with abnormal and indivisible loads. The corn pany had to rely on the customer's information about loads it was to carry. There were no weighing facilities for such loads without taking the vehicles off their notified routes.
As far as convictions for six tachograph offences were concerned, he would have advised the company to defend them but guilty pleas were entered by the office.
The convictions would have been disclosed when the licence was renewed, said Rothera. The company quite simply did not realise that convictions should be reported when they occurred. It had recently been awarded BS 5750 and was embarrassed to be back at a public inquiry.
General manager and managing director designate David Reed said he felt that the company employed the best drivers in the country.
Rothera argued that it was not a bad record in relation to the number of vehicles operated and the number of abnormal loads moved.