PA Laing has O-licence curtailed despite improvements

Traffic Commissioner (TC) for Scotland Joan Aitken has curtailed the O-licence of livestock and timber haulier PA Laing for ongoing maintenance problems, but praised the company for the "huge strides" it has made to improve its operations.

In a written decision following a September public inquiry in Edinburgh, Aitken cut the licence of the Hawick, Scottish borders-based business, to 10 vehicles and 14 trailers between 1 November and 31 December, from the previous authorisation of 12 vehicles and 14 trailers.

Then, from 1 January 2012, the curtailment will be 11 vehicles and 14 trailers for a period of five months.

VOSA conducted a maintenance investigation into the firm in March 2011. It found that there had been 14 prohibitions issued to the operator's vehicles and trailers since November 2009, three immediate, one "S" marked and the remainder delayed

One prohibition issued was for a spring leaf fracture, while another was for a fractured brake disc.

At an earlier two-part PI in November 2009 and February 2010, Aitken had curtailed PA Laing's authorisation to 11 vehicles for five months over maintenance matters.

The latest inquiry was told that since then, the haulier has installed a new secondary inspection pit, bought new air tools for mechanics, improved lighting in the yard and enlarged and resurfaced the parking area