News

A West Midlands operator, whose maintenance system was said to have virtually collapsed, has had his licence cut from 12 vehicles to six.Wednesbury-based Andrew Bayliss, trading as A B Skip Hire, had been called before West Midland Deputy Traffic Commissioner Roger Seymour. Vehicle examiner Mark Jewess said he carried out a maintenance investigation following the impounding of a vehicle displaying an O-licence disc belonging to Bayliss, but being operated by Anthony Baines, who did not hold an  O-licence. He was told the disc had inadvertently been left in the windscreen when the vehicle was sold.

After examining a number of vehicles he issued an immediate 'S' marked prohibition, a delayed prohibition and three defect notices. Three vehicles examined at the roadside led to the issue of an immediate prohibition and a delayed prohibition. There was a first time failure rate at annual test of 95.24%. An annual test of one vehicle was abandoned because its condition made it unsafe to continue. Two further 'S' marked prohibitions were issued in May. Tim Culpin, for Bayliss, said the period between inspections would be reduced from six to four weeks with roller brake tests carried out at every inspection.

Agreeing that things had been pretty shambolic, transport manager Stephen Ellis said he had been trying to cope with too much. Bayliss said he had taken his finger off the pulse and taken a step back because of personal problems, which he shouldn't have done. The firm  had gone down to eight vehicles to get on top of things. He undertook to follow the comprehensive compliance manual provided by his solicitor, and which the DTC described as excellent. Cutting the licence, the DTC said Bayliss had come very close to losing it. The maintenance system had virtually collapsed, which would eventually lead dangerous vehicles on to the road, and such vehicles killed and hurt people.

MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB

Though giving Bayliss a second chance, the DTC made it plain he considered he had a huge mountain to climb if he was going to retain his licence in the longer term.