Waste firm fined for brake problems on three trucks
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Defective brakes and speed limiters have cost a Cheshire waste disposal contractor £1,995 in fines and costs.
Alan's Skip Hire (ASH), of Bretton, near Chester, pleaded guilty to four offences of defective brakes and two of defective speed limiters when the com pany appeared before Wrexham magistrates. Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, Keith Henry said that last November a four-axle tipper loaded with spoil was seen to enter a landfill site at Llay. An examination revealed that the speed limiter system had been disconnected. The variable link assembly had been disconnected and tied out of the way with plastic cable ties. Travel on the nearside front brake actuator was excessive enough to reduce braking efficiency Later that day another ASH four-axle skip loader was checked at the same site. Its speed limiter system had been removed and, once again, there was excessive travel on the nearside front brake actuator.
A third vehicle belonging to the company was then directed to the Llay Test Station where excessive movement was found in the nearside front brake operating camshaft and slack adjuster assemblies.
Henry said that in February a fouraxled ASH tipper loaded with spoil was stopped in a check at Buckley. An examination of the braking system revealed that the load sensing valve operating arm was fractured. The severed section of the linkage was fastened to the chassis by plastic cable ties to stop it dragging along the ground.
He told the court that the load sensing valve was designed to stop premature wheel lock up which could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
When asked about the disconnected speed limiter, director Neil Hassall said that the defect had been reported to the dealer and he was waiting to have the truck booked in for a new speed limiter.
Asked about the vehicle which had had its speed limiter removed, he had told the court that he was waiting for one to be fitted as the last one had been inoperative.