The onus on own account
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ALTHOUGH an own-account operator may be very small and may not use its vehicles very often, it still has the same legal obligations as a large haulage company. If such a firm wishes to hold a licence it has to satisfy the requirements of the law, particularly in regard to maintenance. Otherwise it stands a good chance of losing its licence.
This was said by North Western Licencing Authority Roy Hutchins when he only renewed for one year the standard national licence for one vehicle in possession with one to be acquired held by North West Storage Equipment Company of Rochdale.
Mr Hutchins said that very often when an operator had another primary business, transport was overlooked and re garded as secondary.
Evidence was given by vehicle examiner Frank Howell that he had imposed an immediate prohibition on the firm's vehicle because the nearside rear brake was inoperative. There were a number of other defects including engine oil leaking on to the exhaust system.
The driver reported defects verbally, said Mr Howell. Maintenance was carried out by a commercial garage with the vehicle being inspected every three months. He felt the problem was that the company had employed a young driver who had knocked the vehicle about.
Keith Wood, company secretary, said it was a very small company and the vehicle was not used very regularly due to a down turn in business. The company had since employed an experienced driver, and he submitted written defect reports weekly. The vehicle concerned had been replaced by a new vehicle.
Mr Hutchins said he was prepared to renew the licence for 12 months in view of the steps taken to put the situation right.