It's a mystery, LA tells tipper man
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
IS a mystery how anyone can afford to operate tippers. East dland Licensing Authority Cecil Sheridan commented last week.
-le said this in Lincoln while isidering disciplinary action ainst a licence held by S. L. Iton Ltd, of Boston which thorises seven vehicles and trailers.
Vehicle examiner Albert lmshaw said he gave the Tipany five days' notice of a it in January. He examined o vehicles, imposing irnmediprohibitions on both.
rile first had seven dangerous fects, including a loose axle, insecure prop shaft, and brakI and steering faults. They !re very obvious defects and inspection record showed it is almost two months since it is last inspected. The second hide, which had been ipected 19 days previously, d a brake defect. A further pro*ion was placed on a trailer th a fractured fifth wheel ?.mber.
He commented that tippers required much more attention then ordinary road vehicles, and the suspension was their weakest point. He would like to see the period between inspections sie r duced,
Mr S. Belton said the first ‘ ehicle was purchased econdhand and used mainly on ite work. A lot of money had !leen spent on it last July to pass tlhe annual test, and he was sur prised at its condition in January. After the prohibition was issued, he decided not to have it rebuilt.
Mr Sheridan said that "rebuild" was the word rather than "repair"; to think of that vehicle on the public road in that condition was "pretty frightening".
Mr Belton said that the drivers were paid an hour a day for maintenance, and it was company policy to purchase new vehicles whenever it could. The type of work undertaken made it very difficult.