Traffic Commissioner suspends RTS Waste O licence 13 February 2013

Bermondsey-based RTS Waste Management is facing a two day suspension from running its vehicles, following a public inquiry before the region's traffic commissioner.

Nicholas Denton, the haulage regulator for London and the South East, heard that RTS Waste Management had: been convicted for operating a vehicle with a defective tyre in December 2011; failed to notify the traffic commissioner; received a prohibition notice for a defective vehicle that indicated a significant failure in the company's maintenance arrangements; and did not have satisfactory systems in place to keep its vehicles roadworthy.

At the public inquiry, held in Eastbourne on 7 February 2013, a VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) examiner told the traffic commissioner he had visited the operator's premises in September 2012.

That inspection was arranged after one of the company's trucks was given a prohibition notice for a loose wheel nut. The trailer was also examined and found to have several defects, including issues with brakes and an underinflated tyre.

During the investigation, the VOSA examiner found that defects picked up on planned safety inspections were not recorded as being repaired. Also, the defect reporting system for drivers was also not being monitored, with no evidence to confirm that drivers were performing their daily walk around checks.

Denton concluded that defect reporting had been wholly inadequate and that the audit trail for repair work was ineffective. But after hearing evidence from the company's directors, he noted that reporting lines were now clearer and there had been attempts to improve defect reporting by drivers.

The business also made commitments to have its procedures audited by an independent body and to put a training programme in place for drivers by the end of April 2013.

As a result, the traffic commissioner said that both the operator and its transport manager Ralph Sheridan had narrowly retained their repute, which is a mandatory requirement for holding the licence.

However, he ordered a suspension of the company's licence for two consecutive days, before the end of March 2013.

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)

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