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Suspensions and warnings
Page 71
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Ar Birmingham on Monday, A. G. Bird (Transport) Ltd., of Featherstone, Staffs, appeared before the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. John Else, under a Section 178 inquiry only three months after the deputy LA had given the firm the "gravest possible" warning about the maintenance of its fleet.
However, Mr. Else decided not to take that warning into consideration in dealing with the operator because since that time the ,maintenance staff had been increased. He suspended one vehicle for a month. Nevertheless, he was satisfied that the faults on the vehicle—which had been issued with an immediate GV9 following a six-vehicle pile up, for defective brakes—were the result of bad maintenance.
Mr. Else suggested that Bird should start a system of keeping records of what parts of the vehicles had been inspected during maintenance checks. This would ensure that no item was missed. He said he would order a fleet inspection in due course.
Mr. A. G. Bird, managing,director, said his firm operated 32 vehicles which were maintained with a staff of 11. The driver of the vehicle in question, who, had been dismissed since the accident, had been previously warned twice by his transport manager for speeding and reckless driving. Mr. Bird claimed that despite the vehicle examiner's evidence to the contrary, the faults had been caused by the accident.
Bird was one of 10 operators to appear before Mr. Else under Section 178. Line Transport Ltd., of Penkridge, had one vehicle suspended for three weeks. Mr. B. G. Key, vehicle examiner, said that while the firm's depot had excellent maintenance facilities, they were not used to any great extent.
Mr. J. Toole, managing director of Line Transport, said that he paid his drivers to carry out routine maintenance checks on Saturday mornings. Mr. N. Carless, for the company, pointed out that his client's vehicles were fitted with automatic lubricating systems which resulted in a loss of opportunity for inspection.
The LA said that between September and November last year one immediate and six delayed GV9s were placed on the firm's vehicles. There was a "slap happy" system of maintenance and paying drivers to check vehicles on Saturdays was "putting money down the drain".
J. C. Davidson, of Birmingham, who did not attend, had his C hire licence revoked, and the following were warned:— Horsehay Haulage Co. Ltd., Dawley; J. Bevans (Transport) Ltd., Foxt, Staffs; Minworth Metals Ltd., Minworth; J. W. Bird, Oldbury; Hadley and Cutts, Wolverhampton; and A. H. Boston, Hednesford.
There was no action taken in the case of J. F. Salt, of Warslow, nr. Buxton.