Companies blame 'hit or miss' system
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TWO haulage companies with a total of 28 vehicle prohibition orders against them had -run their vehicles to the point of breakdown", said the Northern LA, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, in Carlisle last week.
John Johnston and Co. Ltd. (with 15 GV9s) and A. W. Johnston (Hauliers) Ltd. (with 13 GV9s) were before Mr. Hanlon to show cause why their licences should not be revoked, suspended or curtailed.
Mr. J. I. Johnston, managing director of both companies, blamed the prohibition orders largely on a "hit or miss" maintenance system, and having bought a number of used vehicles, some more than 10 years old."Now I have adopted a new system of preventive maintenance," he said.
Mr. G. Robson, representing both companies, said they had a total of three motoring convictions against them since 1965—"not an awful lot considering the number of miles travelled".
Added Mr. Robson: "The record of prohibition orders is clearly deplorable. But now both companies are doing everything they can to keep their vehicles safe and roadworthy."
Mr. Hanlon said: "The matters leading up to the prohibition orders involved wilful default and danger to the public. The
vehicles were allowed to be run to the point of breakdown before attention was given." For J. Johnston he suspended the licences of three vehicles for two months. Two were limited B licences and the other was an A licence. For the other company he suspended one A licence for two months.