Chance for elderly fleet
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1 • A Bristol scrap
metal dealer, whose vehicles were described as being "a bit long in the tooth", escaped with a warning when he appeared at disciplinary proceedings before Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Air Vice-Marshal Ronald Ashford.
Joseph Harvey, who holds a national licence for four vehicles, had been called before the DTC following the issue of three prohibitions over a short period of time.
Ashford said he noticed that
accounts produced were in the name of a limited company.
Paul Carless, for Harvey, said that although Harvey personally held the licence the vehicles were being used by Blacichorse Scrap Metals. Ashford said this was extraordinary as the accounts were in the name of J Harvey Ltd.
Harvey said that the company had originally been J Harvey Ltd but it got so complicated that they changed the name to Blackhorse Scrap Metals. Ashford said that he would look at the status of the licence in relation to the limited company. If the company was using the vehicles he felt that the licence ought to be in the name of the company.
Carless said that a prohibition had been issued in December for a service brake imbalance on the first axle: that was a defect that could only be detected
by an HGV test station, Ashford: Look at inspection periods. the imbalance being as
low as 0.4%. The equipment available to operators was not as sensitive as that used by the test stations and the vehicle had passed a roller brake test at Lex Tillotson's the previous day.
A prohibition in November for an air leak at the brake actuator arose when the brakes were pumped for the purpose of the test and the diaphragm blew. Harvey said he normally had two vehicles in use.
They were low-mileage vehicles, doing around 700 mils a month, and were inspected by a mobile fitter every six weeks. Ashford pointed out that the declared period between inspections was even; four weeks. It was not for him to say what it should be, but he would like Harvey to look very seriously at the inspection period.
Carless pointed out that there had been no prohibitions for the past six months.
Taking no action, Ashford said Harvey had been repeatedly warned about maintenance. While he accepted that they were little used they were getting "long in the tooth" and it was vital that they were given the most meticulous care.