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TC: 'Shape up or watch our
Page 23
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A Newcastle-upon-Tyne haulage firm has been warned that ft must improve its maintenance standards or face serious action being taken against its licence.
Donald and Kevin Reid, trading as DAK Tipper Hire of Gosforth, were called before the North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry. The firm held a licence for five vehicles and was seeking the addition of two vehicles.
Vehicle examiner Gary Nicolson said since June 2001, one delayed and three immediate prohibitions had been Issued and there had been one refusal to clear a prohibition. Of seven vehicles presented for annual test over the last 12 months, only three passed first time.
Maintenance was contracted out with a stated inspection period of six weeks but this had been exceeded on various occasions, with intervals of up to 14 weeks between Inspections. Mac,artney said that the firm had had a warning letter in May 1998 relating to maintenance standards and stretched inspection periods. He pointed out that more than one prohibition had been for tyre defects.
For the firm, Christobel Hallace said the vehicles were now pre-booked in at six-weekly intervals until January of next year. Three of the prohibitions related to a vehicle that had since been disposed of. Partner and transport manager Donald Reid said inspection periods had been extended on occasions due to pressure of work. "As transport manager, I was too soft," said Reid.
The IC commented that documents produced to show the changes made to the firm's systems "smelled of panic", as they were all dated the day before the Public Inquiry.
Granting the application, the IC said that it had shown an Intent to put things right in a substantial way. He warned that if there were further problems he would have to take a much more serious line.