LA Satisfied After Maintenance Inquiry
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AN unopposed application for the renewal of an A licence for nine artics in respect of the Swinton base of Law Bros. Road Services Ltd., London, was granted by the North Western Licensing Authority, Mr. C. R. Hodgson, on Monday. The LA said he was impressed by the applicant company's two witnesses and his vehicle examiner was now satisfied with the arrangements for maintenance.
For Law Bros. Mr. J. A. Backhouse said they were a member of a group, within which there were 90 vehicles and 200 trailers. The depot at Deptford was used for major overhaul, leaving each group member to make its own arrangements for other maintenance.
The problem at Swinton had been aggravated by the loss of one of two fitters a year ago and the considerable difficulty in finding a replacement. Now the vacancy had been filled and, in fact, a third fitter had been engaged. New vehicles were being ordered 18 months in advance instead of 12 months to reduce the delay in delivery which had caused more major overhauls to all vehicles to A32
keep them roadworthy. The company had never been convicted for vehicle neglect.
The chief engineer of Convoys Ltd. at Deptford, Mr. S. P. Drury, said he had made a survey of what vehicles needed replacing. introduced a better maintenance system and a bonus payment of £2 per month to drivers to encourage reporting on their vehicle's condition. Arrangements had been made for a periodical check on tyres and the company had taken delivery of some of the new vehicles ordered.
Mr. E. Cornish, a company director, said the result of the vehicle inspection had caused him concern and he had asked Mr. Drury to look into it as a matter of urgency. He was satisfied that maintenance had been covered from every angle and checking and doublechecking had been introduced so that they had not to rely so much on drivers' reports.
A vehicle examiner, Mr. A. Bexon, spoke of the immediate and delayed prohibition notices served following a July inspection, but he was now satisfied in the matter„