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Drivers could not adhere to overload rules

28th September 1973
Page 31
Page 31, 28th September 1973 — Drivers could not adhere to overload rules
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Although a Worcestershire haulage company had stringent rules aimed at minimizing the risk of overloading, the firm knew that in many cases the drivers could not possibly adhere to these rules because of lack of offloading facilities.

This was stated at a public inquiry under Section 69 in Birmingham when the 0 licence held by H. C. Styles (Bewdley) Ltd was curtailed by Mr R. R. Jackson, the West Midland LA.

The firm, which specializes in the carriage of animal foodstuffs, had been called before the LA as a result of overloading conditions and unsatisfactory maintenance reports.

Giving evidence on behalf of the DoE, Mr H. Birch, vehicle examiner, said inspections had been carried out at the premises of H. C. Styles in May and July this year. While the five vehicles and two trailers examined proved to be in a reasonable .condition — attracting only two delayed GV9s and one defect notice — it was the opinion of the examiner that maintenance facilities and staff at the depot were not really adequate to deal with the 16 vehicles, eight trailers and 20 cars owned by the firm.

Mr Birch said that although there were two workshops at the depot, each containing a pit, on his first visit only one of these workshops was being used and this, he said, was capable only of housing three vehicles and the pit capable only of taking one vehicle. Although the documentation system was found to be satisfactory the maintenance schedule had not been adhered to.

For the firm, it was said that the smaller workshop and pits were now being used entirely for the maintenance of the fleet of cars and that additional staff had been taken on for this purpose. An inspection had been carried out in 1970, at the beginning of 0 licensing, but the firm's management had not been informed that the examiners who had made this inspection had any criticism of their facilities.

During his evidence Mr Dennis J. Styles, director, referred to the four convictions for gross overloading and told the LA that the company's drivers had strict instructions that vehicles found to be overloaded should immediately be relieved of the additional load, However, he admitted that he fully realized that in many cases the firm's drivers did not have the facilities to carry out the instructions.

On deciding to curtail the licence, by removing the margin of four vehicles and four trailers. Mr Jackson commented: "What depresses me is the attitude of the company towards overloading. Many operators have trouble with various types of load."


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