"Weight Changes Harm Other Hauliers"
Page 34
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AHAULIER who operates a lorry.
heavier than the weight stipulated on his licence is not doing justice to other people in the industry who keep to the weights originally granted. This was stated last week by the Northern Licen sing Authority, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, when J. Stamper and Co. (Haulage), Ltd., Penrith, admitted that a special A licence they held detailed a vehicle of 5 tons 4 cwt. 82 lb., whereas the lorry being operated actually weighed 7 tons 18 cwt. 9 lb.
Stamper's wanted to exchange the special A for an A licence. Their manag ing director, Mr. John Stamper, said that when the vehicle was bought from a Newcastle upon Tyne dealer it was a six wheeler; and was operated as such for three or four months. In October, 1956, it was modified at Newcastle, returning
to the road as an eight-wheeler capable of carrying 16 tons. Previously the pay
load had been 12 tons. It was not disputed that the, extra Excise duty had been paid.
Answering Mr. Hanlon, he said he was one of the many hauliers who believed that an increase in unladen weight did not have to be declared to the Authority provided it was due to a body modifica tion, or to a change of engine from petrol to oiler. He thought notification could be given on renewal.
Mr. Hanlon said this meant that any haulier could acquire a six-wheeler and then convert it to another weight. People who had done this could not be said to be doing justice to other hauliers who kept their vehicles at the correct weight: He adjourned the hearing for the company to produce accounts, together with paid cheques for the purchase and modification of the vehicle, and a manufacturers' statement about its original -unladen weight.