No action by Eastern LA after Silver Roadways' 30 GV9s
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• Although his company had received 30 GV9s on a fleet of 55 vehicles and 37 trailers many of the defects complained of were of a recurring nature which had been fully appreciated and taken up with manufacturers.
This was said by Mr Kenneth Rogers, area manager for Silver Roadways Ltd, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, when the company was called before the Eastern LA, Mr H. E, Robson, at Cambridge last week.
In evidence Mr Rogers said that four GV9s were placed on trailers for a defect of a body cross-member. The trailers had passed their DoE test with the defect but later a vehicle examiner had issued prohibitions. There had been problems with springs on tractive units which they believed they had now overcome with the aid of the spring manufacturers while trailers had now been fitted with single-leaf springs and were proving more reliable.
Fuel and oil tank brackets had regularly failed and brought GV9s as had brake system leaks. In all cases the appropriate manufacturer had been called in and urgent action taken. Mr Rogers added that the vehicles were purpose-built for carrying bulk sugar for the British Sugar Corporation, there were no suitable vehicles available to substitute for them and this was one reason why it was essential for the company to keep its fleet in good order.
Answering a point made by a vehicle examiner, Mr Rogers said that there were 26 vehicles and 26 trailers operating from the Bury St Edmunds depot with the balance of the fleet working out of King's Lynn.
He accepted that facilities had been stretched at Bury and said arrangements had been made for 11 of the King's Lynn-based, vehicles to be contracted out for maintenance and not sent to Bury as in the past
Complimenting Mr Rogers on the action taken following receipt of the GV9s, the LA said any company might learn the lesson that GV9s were not a nuisance but a means of testing the efficiency of the maintenance system. Proper inspections could lead to fewer breakdowns and a saving inexpensive repair bills. He was impressed by the company's attitude towards proper maintenance and he would make no direction on the licence. There would, however, be a fleet inspection early in the new year.