Sercon Building Supplies, of Bingham. Nottinghamshire. whose one vehicle had
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attracted two immediate prohibitions for a considerable number of defects, escaped with a warning at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.
Vehicle examiner Sidney Hepplewhite told North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mulvenna that the stated inspection period of eight weeks had been repeatedly extended, and the driver defect reporting system was ineffective.
Hepplewhite believed that managing director Paul Jacques was trying hard, and that he had the ability and willingness to put things right, Jacques promised to ensure that the vehicle was Inspected every eight weeks, even when it was not being used, and that he would accompany the driver during his first-use inspections. He added that it would not be economically viable to hire a vehicle to move its goods.
The Deputy TC commented that it had taken some time to get to where they were today. In 1997 there had been no proper maintenance procedures in place; procedures were subsequently introduced but they had not been managed properly.
For the company, Paul Warsley said it had not deliberately contravened the regulations and steps had been taken to ensure the situation did not arise again.
This was not a fly-bynight operator, he added: it was a family business that had been built up over 16 years. The vehicle that was the source of all the problems had been replaced despite having had .£2,000 spent on it.
Mulvenna warned that any more maintenance problems would probably result in the licence being suspended or revoked as the company's history would have justified disciplinary action.
He ordered a further unannounced VI maintenance Investigation within 12 months.