Related Scottish hauliers have O-licences curtailed

A pair of related Kirkcaldy-based haulage firms have had their O-licences curtailed following a DVSA investigation that revealed a series of maintenance failings.

In a written decision following conjoined public inquiries in Edinburgh in June, Simon Evans, deputy traffic commissioner for Scotland, curtailed the Strathore Plant Hire O-licence for four consecutive days from 20 vehicles and three trailers down to 16 vehicles and three trailers.

He also cut the Dalmore Transport licence for four consecutive days from 15 vehicles and 20 trailers to nine vehicles and 20 trailers.

A DVSA investigation concluded that Strathore:
. Submitted a trailer for MoT test which then accrued an “S” marked prohibition for loose wheel nuts and that the operator had admitted liability based on simple, negligent error by a fitter in not checking the torque after a wheel refit several days before;
. Did not have competence or expertise in wheel torque and re-torque, with evidence that the wrench was set higher than was required and that wheels were tightened beyond the set level “just to be sure”;
. Had both wrenches available but not calibrated (they have been since);
. Had no record of driver first use check training;
.  Was not taking sufficiently seriously driver defect checks, as records were thrown in a box and had not always been completed correctly;
.  Had not notified that only in-house maintenance checks were conducted;
. Had been through 25 roadside checks since the last inspection in 2011 with 10 prohibitions issued, three of which were immediate and two “S” marked;
. Had accrued one “S” marked prohibition related to wheel nuts fitted loose on each of three axles of a trailer: and the other for a disconnected red or emergency brake cable on a trailer;
. However, it had carried out some retraining on driver defects processes following the DVSA visit and kept inspection sheets that were appropriate, timely and complete for the most part.

The DVSA found that Dalmore had:
.  Used a purchased but unused trailer on the road knowing it had no MoT. It subsequently passed its MoT;
.  Had undergone 12 roadside checks since 2012 with 12 prohibitions issued, three of which were immediate and one “S” marked;
. The “S” marked prohibition related to six of 10 wheel nuts fitted but loose.
.  However, it had good paper maintenance systems in place, wheel torque records were adequate, driver defect arrangements were in place and maintenance was properly planned.

Both firms had an MoT failure rate of 30%. The hauliers - run by sole director Craig Muir - agreed to an undertaking that a weekly audit take place to check the quality of the walk round check and defect reporting arrangement. Both received a formal warning.