BJ Waters subject to maintenance scrutiny

Consideration of action against a licence held by Derbyshire-based BJ Waters (Transport) over maintenance issues has been adjourned by the North Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell. A maintenance investigation at the firm's Telford site in January revealed a problem over maintenance records, while a maintenance investigation in October revealed that inspection periods in relation to three vehicles and a large number of trailers had been extended beyond the stated six-week interval. On one occasion there was a gap of 15 weeks and in another 25 weeks.

It was suggested there had been a too-liberal interpretation of the VOR concept, in that if a trailer was not being used for a week it was treated as off the road for maintenance purposes. Waters, which holds a licence in the North West for 34 vehicles and 28 trailers, also holds a licence in the West Midlands for 12 vehicles and trailers. The TC said she wanted to know more about the other licences as she was uncomfortable when there was another licence with possible similar issues.

She added that she had given the company a warning at a previous disciplinary inquiry in 2004 when maintenance was also the issue. Director Martin Waters said that he had had a lot on his plate after his brother, who was also a director of the business, unexpectedly died in 2005. Suspension of the licence for any period would be tantamount to revocation as BJ Waters has customers with daily requirements who would go elsewhere, he stated.

The vehicles were fully employed year-round and any curtailment of the operational fleet would lead to redundancies. In adjourning the proceedings, the TC said she was not considering licence revocation, but the possible suspension or curtailment of the licence.