A haulier has been given interim authority for five extra trucks after a new investigation was ordered to ensure maintenance standards were being met. Consideration of action against the O-licence held by Manchester-based Translite Logistics has been adjourned until the results of the investigation have been revealed.
North-Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mulvenna granted the company interim authority to increase its licence from 12 vehicles and six trailers to 17 vehicles
and six trailers.
Vehicle examiner Alan Chan said he carried out an unannounced maintenance investigation in March. Four vehicles examined were satisfactory, but safety inspection records and defect reports were not all fully completed. There was a 33% pass rate at annual vehicle test compared with a national average of 71%. Since the O-licence was granted in August 2007, three immediate prohibitions and one delayed prohibition had been issued.
After examining maintenance records produced at the hearing, Chan said there seemed to be improvement in their completion and there was now an audit system in place for driver walk around checks. He would now have no problem with the company operating 17 vehicles.
Managing director and transport manager Mark Ball said the drivers had received training. The maintenance contractors had been changed twice in a short period of time because of dissatisfaction over their standards. The additional vehicles were required to meet demand
from an existing customer. Without them, the client would go elsewhere.
Ball realised he needed to spend more time looking after the maintenance side.
The DTC said that should the future maintenance investigation prove satisfactory he would take no action other than to issue a formal warning.
Reluctant to damage the business
The DTC considered it would be disproportionate to take action that would be commercially damaging without more up-to-date information.
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