Maintenance review— by 11 men who hear all the evidence
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By JOHN N. FRIEDMAN
IN the words that preface each of 1. the 11 Licensing Authorities' reports to the Minister for the year ended September 30 1966 . . . "I have the honour to report" on their views about the standard of maintenance in the road transport industry. Views based on a year's facts, a year's figures, a year's experience—and on years of accumulated facts, figures and experience.
And the picture they paint—collectively and individually—is somewhat less than bright., Take Mr. John A. T. Hanlon, Northern LA. He says:—
"While there is considerable evidence that the stern measures taken in the past two years have had a salutary effect in bringing home to some hauliers the need for proper maintenance, the standard of maintenance of many hauliers remains poor. Too many are still reluctant to acquire proper facilities, hire staff and introduce well-planned systems of preventive maintenance.
"There is still evidence, however, that the efforts of some hauliers to improve the roadworthiness of their fleets are being hindered by long delivery dates for new vehicles, poor service in supplying spares and the general shortage of experienced fitters."
Small joy for hauliers there.
On maintenance, Yorkshire LA Mr. H. E. Robson sticks strictly to figures—revealing more prohibitions.
But there's a phrase of cheer from North Western LA Mr. C. R. Hodgson: "There appears to be a growing willingness among operators to improve maintenance standards". As evidence he points to interest in the work of the goods vehicle
maintenance advisory committee and in particular to its experimental commercial garages maintenance scheme (which stemmed from his own suggestion).
From Mr. John Else, West Midland LA, this firm opinion: "There is little possibility of any marked his emphasis] improvement in the maintenance and condition of goods vehicles until they are inspected annually at vehicle testing stations and the examination backed by spot checks of at least 10 per cent of vehicles annually and some degree of supervision exercised over operators' maintenance arrangements."
His East Midland counterpart, Mr. C. M. Sheridan, finds indications that operators are improving their maintenance systems—in spite of their difficulties in obtaining competent staff and the "shortage of spare parts for comparatively new vehicles".
Eastern LA Mr. W. P. S. Ormond, reporting "no great change in the number of prohibition
notices", adds: "It is considered that there has been an overall improvement in vehicle condition." Which looks encouraging.
Mr. Ronald Jackson of South Wales says that after fleet inspections had brought evidence of unsatisfactory maintenance to light "at the later hearing I invariably found a much improved standard of maintenance."
Says the Western LA, Mr. J. R. C. SamuelGibbon: ". . . I know . .. from reports made to me by my technical staff that in many cases maintenance has, during the year, been put on the right lines."
But there is still room for improvement in many cases in the South Eastern area, says Mr. A. F. J. Elmslie.
The Metropolitan's Mr. D. I. R. Muir finds little change: "It's discouraging to find that the percentage of immediate prohibition notices has increased each year over the past three years."
His long-term remedy (one, incidentally, which many other LAs favour) is more checks at operators' premises rather than at the roadside. But, he says, Metropolitan area operators have to battle to find adequate premises. He doubts whether planning authorities realize the importance, in the public interest, of such facilities.
Scottish LA Mr. A. B. Birnie is glad to be able to report an improvement. Except in the case of lighter (under 30 cwt. unladen) vehicles. But, he says, "maintenance is still far from being so good as it could and should be."
Now . . . back to Mr. Samuel-Gibbon for a particularly pertinent paragraph. He writes:—
"Finally, I would, as a matter of common justice, add a word of encouragement to the many operators who are quietly achieving, day by day and year by year, high standards of maintenance which have no news value."
Ford Show: Ford's new heavies will be among 80 commercial vehicles on display at "Spring Fling", a motor show cum fair which the Ford Motor Co. is staging at the Royal Highland showground at Ingliston, nr. Edinburgh, from May 13 to 20.