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Multiple test failures Lead to 0-licence cut
A HAULIER HAS had its licence cut for using an unauthorised operating centre and for half its vehicles failing their annual test. The firm was said to have neglected maintenance in favour of securing contracts for more work.
Appearing before Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken at an Inverness public inquiry, Dingwall-based McCallum Haulage had its licence cut from five vehicles and seven trailers to four vehicles and seven trailers for a period of 10 weeks.
Vehicle examiner Robert Duncan said that a maintenance investigation in June 2009 was prompted by an S'-marked prohibition in
April 2009 and a previous unsatisfactory investigation in March 2007 Since the licence was granted in April 2006, four immediate and nine delayed prohibitions had been issued — two of the immediate prohibitions were `S'-marked and four were issued at annual test.
The most common defects were brake-related. The annual test history for vehicles and trailers from April 2006 showed 48 tests with 22 passes, five PRS (initial failures) and 21 failures.
Maintenance was done by director Callum McCallum and a mobile contractor at McCallum's workshop in Muir of Ord.The inspection records did not show any road test or brake-test details: rectification was not recorded: inspection frequency was sometimes exceeded by four weeks; the driver defect reporting system was seldom used; and reports were not endorsed as roadworthy or fit for service.
McCallum said drivers had been told to tighten up procedures They had successfully replaced their mobilemechanicwitha commercial garage to improve their test resul Brake tests were now done eve six months and no vehicle wou go for test without a brake test.
He admitted using the Muir Ord site as an operating cent when the authorised centre was Dingwall. Application had be made to add the Muir of Ord site the licence, and meanwhile, tl vehicles would return to Dingwal