Company blames Russians
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE USE of six of the only seven Russian-built Kamaz vehicles in the country was said to be part of the reason for a poor maintenance record by J. C. Hayes (Northern) Ltd of Barnsley.
Appearing at disciplinary proceedings before Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority N. F. Moody at Sheffield on September 24, he said he was considering taking action in the light of eight vehicle prohibitions, six defect notices and nine convictions recorded against the company and six convictions recorded against its drivers.
For the company, it was said some of the difficulty was caused because it was operating vehicles which took time for its staff to become used to.
Commenting on a cracked windscreen noted on a prohibition, company fitter John Hob son said they had had to wait while a replacement was sent from the Soviet Union.
The company's former general and transport manager, David Barber, said that every effort had been made to keep the vehicles in good condition and the company's performance improved with the acquisition of the Russian vehicles.
Four convictions related to tyre defects but the company had been spending some £16,000 a month on tyres because of damage when vehicles were entering and leaving quarries.
There had been problems in relation to overloading as the weights varied depending on the percentage of fluorsta in the material carried and the weathei conditions. The company de. pended on the expertise of thE operative on the loading shove and on the driver himself.
He agreed that the driver musi have been aware of a 21 per cery axle overload of some 1.2f tonnes.
Suspending 26 vehicles foi three months and a furthei vehicle for one month, M Moody said the company': record as a whole suggestec that the company was irrespons ible.