News

Hereford-based haulier Gammonds Transport has seen its licence cut temporarily by the West Midlands TC Nick Jones due to maintenance issues. The Birmingham Disciplinary Inquiry heard that there had been ten prohibition notices and three variations issued since the last public inquiry in January 2004.

Vehicle examiner Alan Howells said there had been significant failures at annual test and maintenance records and schedules were not being adhered to. The driver defect reporting system was  not being used by all drivers and the reports were not signed off when repairs were completed.

For the company, Michael Carless said that vehicle inspection had now been contracted out, with the contractor also undertaking roller brake tests for the trailers. Additional workshop staff were being employed and there were now plans to build new workshop facilities.

Howells said that he had visited the company again in December and there appeared to be an improvement. They had since modified the system and the company appeared to be on the right road.

Cutting the licence to eight vehicles for a period of six weeks, Jones said he was concerned that this was the firm's second public inquiry and that issues raised during the first public inquiry had not previously been addressed, although he accepted that things had now been rectified.