Bonus for law-abiding drivers
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AN OPERATOR that took steps to solve its maintenance problems, including paying a £500 annual bonus to drivers who stayed on the right side of the law, has won a licence increase.
North-Eastern Traffic Commissioner Torn Macartney accepted that R McDowell Haulage & Distribution of Keighley had tried to put things right.
The TC issued a formal warning but granted a licence increase from 63 vehicles and 50 trailers to 68 vehicles and 55 trailers.
Vehicle examiner David Howram said that since December 2001. six immediate and five delayed prohibitions, three of which were S-marked,had been issued to the company's vehicles and trailers.
During a maintenance investigation in December, Ilowrain had issued a prohibition to a trailer less than 12 months old that had fractured and displaced shock absorbers.
The company's workshop was too low to accommodate some of the high-bodied trailers now in use. Howram considered the maintenance arrangements inadequate for the current fleet.
Appearing for the company, Gary Hodgson said it had employed a new workshop supervisor with management expertise and the number of workshop staff had been increased. The maintenance of the three high-bodied trailers had been contracted out.
External audits would be carried out quarterly, and multi-checks twice a year. Drivers who kept their nose clean would receive an annual bonus of1500.