Examiner could turn wheelnuts by hand

THE OWNER and driver of a truck with wheelnuts so loose they could be rotated by hand have paid £455 in fines and costs. Widnes-based Rock Chemicals, trading as Rock Oil Co, and the vehicle’s driver, Ian Anderson, pleaded guilty before the Liverpool Magistrates to using a vehicle with insecure wheels.

Traffic examiner Sarah bell said that last November a three-axled rigid driven by Anderson was stopped at a roadside check at Waterloo Dock Road. Seven of the 10 nuts securing the nearside front wheel were loose – the vehicle examiner could easily rotate four of them by using his finger and thumb.

Rust marks on the wheel showed the defect was not a recent development.
When asked if he had checked the wheelnuts Anderson had replied: “No, I haven’t got a wheel brace and it was dark and I haven’t been trained how to use a hammer.” Asked if had been trained in the walk-round safety check Anderson said no, adding that he had just “picked it up over the years”.

The magistrates fined the company £150 with £85 costs and Anderson £150 with £70 costs.
This article was originally published in Commercial Motor on 13/05/04.