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Timber operator given one last chance to pass MoT
Page 35
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TIMBER HAULIER who blamed the rough nature A his work for his truck's failure to pass its annual test las been told it must pass a fresh MoT test at the first ittempt or he faces having his licence suspended.
Chathill-based Michael Riddell. trading as MJ Riddell Haulage. had been called before the NorthEastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney. His icence for two vehicles and four trailers was cut to )ne vehicle and one trailer for two months by the TC.
Vehicle examiner Kevin Donaldson said he had ;xarnined the vehicle and trailer during a maintenance nvestigation, issuing a delayed prohibition and two iefect notices. Both had failed their annual test in lanuary for multiple reasons. Riddell said he collected imber from forests in Northumberland in demanding conditions for delivery to various docks in the UK. Asked how he could ensure the vehicle was kept roadworthy. Riddell said the problems were caused by the rough nature of the ground the vehicle operated over when collecting timber,adding that he would have to carry out more rigorous checks throughout the day.
Riddell gave an undertaking that future safety inspections would be undertaken every four weeks by an outside contractor.
The TC said some of the items on the inspection sheets produced from the contractor should have been detected by a driver — yet Riddell, who was a trained mechanic as well as the driver, had presented the vehicle to the contractor in that condition. He was giving Riddell one chance to put things right.