aintenance warning
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• A Cumbrian haulier, who was making his second appearance at a disciplinary inquiry in just over 12 months, has had his Operator's Licence cut to two vehicles.
William McNally, trading as McNally Roadfreight, of Barrowin-Furness, appeared before the North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mulvenna because of concern over his maintenance record. He held a licence for three vehicles and one trailer.
Vehicle examiner Brian Heyhurst said he conducted a maintenance investigation in July following a previous public inquiry in November 1997 when McNally's licence was curtailed from six vehicles and three trailers. He inspected the two vehicles being operated.
One vehicle was given an immediate prohibition for loose wheelnuts and the other a delayed prohibition for a brake defect. The brake prohibition was endorsed as a significant maintenance failure as McNally had only recently repaired the brakes. One of the vehicles was given a variation notice for further defects when it was presented for clearance at the test station. He concluded that McNally was not capable of main taining the vehicles without assistance.
For McNally, Paul Carless said it was conceded the driver defect reporting system had not been used as it should. Arrangements had been made for every third inspection to be carried out by an outside contractor; it was also proposed to have the vehicles roller-brake tested four times a year. McNally said he was confident that with the new systems he would not have these problems again.
After the Deputy TC had commented that at best there had only been a marginal improvement since the last public inquiry, and it seemed that only "lip service" had been paid to some matters, McNally said he had taken the advice on board. He did not have the personal problems he had suffered last year and he had a bit more time to spend on the vehicles.
Carless said he had impressed on McNally that if he appeared at a further public inquiry he would not keep his licence "even if he was represented by the Angel Gabriel".
Cutting the licence, the Deputy TC warned McNally that another appearance at public inquiry could very well signal the end of the licence.