Walk-round check could have stopped loose nuts
Article courtesy of Commercial Motor magazine

AN OWNER-DRIVER hauling a car transporter trailer with a dangerously insecure wheel has been ordered to pay fines and costs of £370.

Ian Reid of Runcorn, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before the Chester magistrates. He admitted he had failed to carry out his daily walk-round check before setting off that morning and agreed that wheelnuts should be checked every day.

The court was told that last November, a 4x2 tractor unit towing a two-axled trailer loaded with seven cars was checked at Dunkirk. An examination of the vehicle revealed that six out of 10 wheelnuts on the offside front wheel were so loose that the wheelnut washers could be rotated by hand. The vehicle was issued with an immediate prohibition.

When interviewed, Reid had said that he was the owner and a director of I&J Transport Services and that he owned the arctic. The magistrates fined him £300 with £70 costs.

This article was originally published in Commercial Motor on 15/07/04.