Aberdeen haulage operator suspended following truck wheel detachment 24 March 2010

The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland has suspended Aberdeen-based haulage operator W & H Leslie's licence for 10 days from 23.59 on March 31, following a truck wheel detachment on the A90 near Finavon, Forfar, Angus.

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

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

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

"It was a matter of great good luck that, in crossing the carriageway, the detached wheel did not strike anyone or anything," said Aitken.

Interestingly, a maintenance investigation last September revealed several 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 the operator's 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 re-torque, but it could not be found. However, other similar records for vehicles and trailers could be found either, and, more importantly, re-torqueing was carried out by drivers using a wheel key and bar, rather than a torque wrench.

Additionally, that 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; showing wheels are re-torqued using a torque wrench, rather than a bar and key; and recommendation of some means of brake test facility.

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 added.

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

Related Companies
Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

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