Suspended for prohibitions
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Two vehicles have been suspended for two weeks from the licence held by Chris Bennett Heavy Haulage of Wilmslow. The company appeared before North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mutvenna.
The company, which holds a licence for 33 vehicles and 40 trailers, had been called before the Deputy IC because of concern about its maintenance.
Vehicle examiner Colin Brown said that following the issue of a delayed prohibition in December, which was endorsed as showing a significant maintenance failure, he carried out a maintenance investigation in January without prior notice.
He examined six vehicles and eight trailers and issued three delayed prohibitions. Though the company's maintenance arrangements were generally satisfactory, he felt it did not employ enough fitters.
In reply to Jonathan Lawton, for the company, Brown accepted that it was unusual for a delayed prohibition to be endorsed "S".
He said the prohibition had been issued because of a number of minor air leaks in the braking system, but agreed that the air pressure could be sustained by the engine running at just over tick-oven However, he felt the driver ought to have spotted the leaks
Brown said he was satisfied that the drivers were carrying out daily walkround checks property, and he had no reason to believe that the vehicles prohibited in January, for two defective light bulbs and a loose wheelnut, would have left the premises in that condition.
hie agreed that of the 22 prohibitions issued in the past five years, most were delayed.
Managing director Chris Bennett said the company had taken on extra staff to help to improve vehicle maintenance. Vehicles were inspected every six weeks rather than at intervals of 12 weeks as declared in the licence application.
Arguing that it would be inappropriate to take any disciplinary action, Lawton main tained that the prohibition ought to be disregarded. Suspending the vehicles, the Deputy IC said that the fact that prohibitions had been issued was enough reason to take action against the licence.