Sunter Bros. Refused Heavy Tractor
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QUNTER BROS. LTD., of North
aIlerton, unsuccessfully applied to the Northern Licensing Authority at Darlington on Friday to vary its A licence by the addition of a 141-ton tractor. Mr. Peter Sunter said that this tractor would not mean that the firm could carry more tonnage. He explained that, on really heavy loads, it was essential to have a tractor pushing as well as one pulling the trailer. At times the firm had hired tractors from Pick fords and Wynn's, two objectors, so that they could get their vehicles moving. The objectors said it was quite usual for haulage contractors to bring in machinery from the parts of the country through which they were travelling. They said that, if Sunter had another tractor, they could carry larger loads.
Mr. Sunter said that the tractor had
no bearing on the weight carried. Mr. R. W. Featherstone, transport manager of Head Wrightson Co. Ltd., said that Sunter Bros. were his first main contractor. He said that, bearing in mind the speed of the vehicle, moving took a long time. His firm had notices on their loads apologizing to other road users for the inconvenience they caused, and would certainly be glad to see the loads move more quickly. Mr. Featherstone said that loads were getting bigger and thought that the day would come when hauliers would be asked to carry loads of up to 600 tons. Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, for Sunter, said that it was in the public interest that heavy loads be carried as safely and quickly as possible. The L.A. refused the application, as he did not think the tractor was necessary under the circumstances.