Tyre firm gets suspension
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Est A tyre suppler
which was said to be deeply embarrassed about a prohibition notice for loose wheelnuts has had a vehicle suspended from its three-vehicle licence for a month.
Widnes-based Tanhouse Tyre & Exhaust, trading as Lunts Heath Tyre & Exhaust, had been called before North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner Patrick Mulvenna at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.
Vehicle examiner Peter Turner said that during a prearranged investigation in March he examined two vehicles and issued an immediate prohibition with two defect notices.
Records produced showed inspection intervals varying between eight and 16 weeks, There had been three unsatisfactory maintenance investigations over the past five years and the company had been sent a warning letter in June 1997. The situation had not improved.
For the company, Paul Carless said that it changed many thousands of tyres and it found it deeply embarrassing to have been given a prohibition for loose wheelnuts. As a result it had written to its drivers about their responsibilities for checking their vehicles, particularly wheelnuts.
The other immediate item related to brakes; arrangements had been made to have the vehicles roller-brake tested four times a year.
Director Andrew Cunningham said he was very, very embarrassed that the driver had failed to check the tightness of the wheelnuts shortly after putting the wheel on. The gaps in the inspection records were due to one vehicle being off the road on a number of occasions with engine problems.
Ordering a further maintenance investigation in six months' time, the Deputy TC warned that if the company was found wanting in the future its licence might well be revoked.