Fleet cutback might hit jobs
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• Six drivers employed by Gateshead-based Van Hee Transport may have to be made redundant, following a decision of the North Eastern Licensing Authority, Frederick Whalley, to reduce the company's fleet because of overloading convictions.
Van Hee had applied to renew its national licence for 44 vehicles and 40 trailers in possession, with two vehicles to be acquired, but Whalley was only prepared to grant it a licence for 12 months, for 38 vehicles and trailers.
Whalley said that the company had given assurances concerning overloading following a previous public inquiry in 1981 and a warning letter in 1982. Since then it had been convicted of a further 22 offences. In addition, the company had failed to notify the LA of the convictions within 28 days of their occurence, which it was required to do under the 1984 Qualifications and Fees Regulations. That was something that the Transport Tribunal, in the case of Alan John Balch versus Hampshire Constabulary, had said a Licensing Authority was entitled to take into account when considering operator repute or fitness.
For the company, Roger Hird said that one of the problems facing the company was the lack of facilities for drivers to check-weigh vehicle axles. Indicating that he did not accept that as a reasonable excuse, Whalley said that the onus was on operators not to commit overloading offences. He pointed out that Van Hee had been convicted of exceeding the gross weight, as well as axle weights, on a number of occasions, and that he took a serious view of the situation.