Munro adds 60 vehicles
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• Allen Munro Transport has succeeded in a bid to increase its licence authorisation of 50 vehicles and 80 trailers to 70 vehicles and 120 trailers.
Appearing for the company at a Manchester public inquiry, John Backhouse told North Western LA Martin Albu that the company had been operating from Burscough but had now acquired a operating centre at Skelmersdale. It was only operat• ing 30 vehicles and wanted the additional authorisation because of the possibility of acquiring further contracts. The Burscough site would be retained for main• t enance and trailer storage.
DOT vehicle examiner Thomas Hick said that despite four days notice of a maintenance investigation in November, no vehicles were made available to him. He made an appointment for a second visit which he was unable to attend.
An examination of the inspection records revealed large gaps. There was no forward planning of the maintenance and since 1992 nine immediate and seven delayed prohibitions had been issued to the company's vehicles. Backhouse said that the vehicles were maintained by the manufacturer's agents and the trailers by the rental company They were contracted to handle the maintenance and they under Backhouse, Hick said he did not think there was a maintenance problem.
Director Peter Dickinson said that Allen Munro Transport was part of a group of companies. It had been approached by a number of customers to seek contracts and if it was successful it would need the vehicles to service them. He did not want a situation where the company acquired the contracts and then had to apply for additional vehicle& The reason for the gaps in the inspection records was that some of the paperwork was lost during the move to Skelmersdale.
Granting the application without taking any disciplinary action. Albu said there had been grounds for concern but he was satisfied with what he had heard.