Hauliers May Lose Special A Licences
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HAULIERS operating under special A licences arc risking almost certain revocation if their vehicles are heavier than the weight specified on the licences. This is clear from recent decisions in the traffic courts, where applications for transfers to public A licence have resulted in the special A licence being revoked.
Experts consider that the only hope these hauliers have is to inform the Licensing Authority immediately of the discrepancies, rather than wait until they are brought to light at substitution inquiries.
One of the leading solicitors in the licensing field told The Commercial Motor that the misuse of application forms had brought about the present situation. Often they were signed in blank to allow the substitution of different vehicles. He believed that many operators, particularly in the north, would have to
• put their affairs in order if they were to avoid losing their licences.
In the past few weeks, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, has revoked three special A licences because of weight discrepancies. At Carlisle on July 22, Mr. W. Stubbs and Mr. L. Stoddart each lost licences, and a week later Harker Bros., Appleby, had their licence revoked at Keswick.
This attitude by the Authority shows that hauliers should take heed of the warning given in The Commercial Motor last week about the danger of dealing in special A licences. Any haulier who has bought special A vehicles through dealers should check the specifications on the licence with those of the vehicle.