Wholesaler suspended for failing to spot loose wheel nuts12 November 2013

Operators are being urged to take an active interest in the work carried out by their maintenance providers, after North Tyneside-based Raikin Wholesale had its operator's licence suspended for a week when examiners found loose wheel nuts during a vehicle MOT.

Traffic commissioner Kevin Rooney told the company's directors that the business had been "significantly non-compliant" after hearing that its vehicle had been used in a dangerous condition.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) examiners found all six wheel nuts were so loose that they were about to fall off when the vehicle was taken for its MOT. A safety critical prohibition notice was served and an investigation launched.

At a hearing in Leeds last month, the traffic commissioner was told that Raikin Wholesale's maintenance provider had carried out work on the vehicle before the MOT and, after re-lining the front brakes, they forgot to tighten the wheel nuts.

Raikin did not have a written defect reporting system in use and, a VOSA examiner found that routine vehicle safety inspections were not planned in advance. Additionally, the business had failed to attend a VOSA safety seminar for new operators.

The commissioner ordered a suspension of Raikin's licence from 17 to 23 November.

After the hearing, the commissioner reminded all operator licence holders to develop a good working relationship with their maintenance contractors - and to assess their performance: "Operators should take an active interest in their maintenance contractors and be curious about the service that is being provided. They hold critical information about vehicle maintenance, all of which is vital to operator licence compliance... A preventative approach to maintenance involves scrutinising records and performance at all levels."

Author
Laura Cork

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