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Category: Road Transport / Industry / Accidents / Road

Police discover defects in dozens of trucks from one company

Wednesday, 14 Sep 2016 13:58:52

Police identified numerous mechanical problems with oil, fuel and chassis failures. (Supplied: NSW Police)

A trucking company has had all but one vehicle in its fleet grounded by police, following a serious crash involving one of its trucks in Sydney's south.

Gates Haulage Pty Ltd, which is based in Gerringong south of Wollongong, received defect notices for 28 of its 29 vehicles.

Police identified numerous mechanical problems with oil, fuel, chassis failures and other issues.

Under Operation Rhino, police joined Roads and Maritime officers at the company's Victoria Street address to carry out the inspections.

Police said they targeted the company after one of its trucks was involved in a serious accident at Engadine last week.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Command Chief Inspector Phillip Brooks said the operation identified a number of serious faults, which are still being investigated.

"We identified various mechanical issues with the trucks including one with a significant fuel leak," he said

"We had to ground that truck and tow it out of there."

He said two other vehicles were also found to have faulty speed limiters, which meant they could go over the 100 kilometre speed restriction for heavy vehicles.

Defects may lead to fatalities

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner David Driver said transport companies involved in moving earth and other heavy loads needed to ensure their vehicles and drivers were safe on New South Wales roads.

"With defective trucks and non-compliant speed limiters, a driver's ability to brake suddenly in an emergency situation becomes impossible, potentially leading to a serious injury or fatal crash," he said.

Roads and Maritime general manager of compliance operations Paul Endycott said it was disappointing the majority of the company's trucks were non-compliant.

"This is simply not good enough," he said.

"For only one truck to pass inspection means this company has a long way to go before it comes off our radar.

"Not addressing defects which cause safety issues on the road puts all motorists at risk, which is not acceptable.".

Police also seized a number of documents relating to last week's accident involving the company's truck.

A spokesman for Gates Haulage Pty Ltd said it would not comment while the matter was being investigated by safety authorities.

AustraliaPlus


 

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