Wheel assembly maintenance key to operator suspension 08 June 2010

The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, who suspended Aberdeen-based haulage operator W&H Leslie's licence for 10 days in April following
a truck wheel detachment, has released useful details of the issues behind her decision.

Joan Aitken's public inquiry heard evidence from a VOSA vehicle examiner that, on 14 August 2009, one of the company's vehicles, carrying 23 tonnes of timber from Elgin to England, lost its nearside third axle wheel.

The inquiry was told that the driver had been on the road for about one hour when, at the bends on the A90 near Finavon, Forfar, he "noticed the nearside third axle wheel had come off the hub and was passing the tractor unit".

That wheel travelled across the carriageway, crossing the central reservation, and bouncing into the northbound carriageway, before coming to rest 50m into a field.

But the maintenance investigation last September showed several revealing issues. In evidence, the VOSA examiner cited observing two suspended vehicles, parked up as a result of a curtailment imposed back in July.

He also reported that, on examining the operator's inspection records, the vehicle had been in its workshop "on 8 August 2009, when wheels had been removed and refitted". The wheels had been torqued after fitment "and a sheet put in the cab to advise drivers which wheels had been removed and of the requirement for a re-torque to be carried out".

That cab sheet was supposed to be signed off, confirming the re-torque, but it could not be found. However, other similar records for vehicles and trailers could not be found either, and, importantly, re-torqueing was carried out by drivers using a wheel key and bar, rather than a torque wrench.

Additionally, the vehicle had been fitted with chrome wheel trims and, although the trim holes were large enough to take a wheel key and bar, visual inspection of the nuts was only possible if a driver looked closely through the trim.

Subsequent requirements put on the operator included: putting mileages on defect reports; detailing repairs; improvements to be made in recording wheel torque procedures; identifying the vehicle or trailer ID on wheel torque tickets; and showing that wheels are re-torqued using a torque wrench, rather than a bar and key. Some means of brake testing was also recommended.

As for the case, Aitken said: "I am now placed in the dire position where I must wonder if I can allow this operator to remain in business with only the prospect of serious injury or worse to person or persons, before I can take the step of revocation."

She cited case law of the Transport Tribunal, which, she said, held her back from revocation. "However, serious action is required here, as I must bring it home to the directors and all drivers that the licence undertakings must be adhered to and that this must become a totally safe operation.

"I consider the case to be so serious that only a suspension can be an appropriate regulatory response," she insisted.

Author
Brian Tinham

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