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Licence in peril after third inquiry
Page 18
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The future of the 0-licence held by a Cardiff-based tanker operator is hanging in the balance after Welsh Traffic Commissioner David Dixon reserved his decision on what action to take following its third maintenancerelated public inquiry.
The hearing was told how Ooldwings (Wales), trading as Thomas Oil Distribution, had been subject to a maintenance investigation earlier this year— five vehicles were examined and three prohibitions were issued. However, the company hotly contested a prohibition for stud holes elongated and excessively worn on a trailer which had been marked as a significant maintenance failure, Colin Ward, appearing for the company, said the maintenance contractor had not fitted the wheel in question with the cone-shaped wheel washers recommended by the trailer manufacturer.
They knew they put the wrong studs in. I am adamant about it," director David Thomas told the inquiry. "I am willing to go to court over it."
Thomas said the contractor and a tyre company representative attended the site where the vehicle was stopped and fitted a new wheel rim and tyre to the trailer. A fortnight later the company's own fitter noticed elongated holes again.
"Our fitter saw the holes, and said the wheel needed the cones," Thomas continued. "I checked with the manufacturers and discovered the studs were toe short. You couldn't get a full nut on."
He added that Thomas Oil had since stopped using the company concerned.
Transport manager Angela Thomas said that she had had difficulty getting Inspection records back from the maintenance firms. She insisted that maintenante records had been available but she was not in the office at the time of the visit from the Vehicle Inspectorate.
Reserving his decision, the IC said that he required the production of further financial details.