CV hit by `mechanical maladies'
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The Operator's Licence held by Chesterfield owner-driver Richard Turton was revoked by North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney when he failed to appear at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.
The IC gave notice of his intention to disqualify Turton, who traded as Richard S Turton Freight Forwarding with a licence for one vehicle and one trailer.
He said that Turton's vehicle had been given a prohibition showing a significant maintenance failure in December. But when the vehicle was produced for clearance on 5 January the prohibition was varied after another 11 defects were found. Clearance was again refused on 14 January.
When the vehicle was again examined on 17 January it was issued with a delayed prohibition for excessive exhaust emissions. The vehicle examiner reported that inspection intervals varied
between six and 10 weeks, and that on some records there were defects that had been reported earlier. Turton had told the vehicle examiner that he was no longer using his authorised operating centre and he was unable to indicate where the vehicle was being kept.
The IC said Turton had written to say he wished to surrender his licence as his vehicle had been "Inundated with mechanical maladies for over 12 months". He had also said it was difficult to make a profit, despite working long weeks, and that insolvency was close.
A fax had been received saying Turton was unable to attend the hearing because he was awaiting the return of his car following repairs.
Revoking the licence, the TC said it was a sorry state of affairs. In the past five years five prohibitions had been issued to Turton's vehicle, and on his own admission he was unable to generate sufficient income. His excuse for fairing to attend was very poor, and was an indication of the professionalism with which he had been running his operation.
Macartney concluded that while he was sympathetic to small operators doing their best to succeed, he had to consider road safety. He concluded that Turton had difficulty in maintaining even the very basic standards.