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Vehicles put off the road until tests are retaken
Page 23
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Four vehicles operated by a husband and wife partnership involved in livestock haulage have been put off the road until they have fresh tests certificates.
In addition, the Welsh Deputy Traffic Commissioner Alan Jenkins required Robert and Felicity Davies, trading as Len Davies, of Abergavenny, to produce additional financial evidence by the end of the month or face having their licence revoked.
Vehicle examiner Douglas Gough told a Cardiff disciplinary inquiry that the firm had been sent a previous warning letter. Over the last five years the vehicles had attracted one delayed and three immediate prohibitions. Defects included a seriously under-inflated tyre, brake problems on a unit and trailer, and a variation in connection with a defective speed limiter. There was an initial failure rate at annual test of 100%.
Only advisory defects were found during a maintenance investigation carried out in March with prior notice, said Gough. The maintenance records were satisfactory but drivers were reporting defects verbally.
For the partners, Ray Saltiel said that the severe air leak in the braking system could have happened at any time during the journey. He had concluded that the problems were either driver related or due to the maintenance contractor being used. One of the problems was a skills shortage in the area. He had made it plain that the first-time failure rate at annual test could have a dramatic effect on the licence and that the partners had to get it right.
"This has been a serious blip but there is now a driver defect system and you should see a dramatic improvement," Saltiel told the DTC.
The DTC said that operators must comply with the terms of their 0-licence and the assurances given, especially on maintenance.
He was satisfied the firm had not disregarded their maintenance obligations. They had relied entirely on their maintenance contractor. However, in the end, they were let down, albeit by a reputable provider.