Trucking operations shutdown for safety violations

The Registrar of Motor Vehicles has suspended the operations of two trucking companies for repeated safety violations.

Weir�s Construction Ltd., located in Donovan�s Industrial Park, and Clarke�s Trucking and Excavating Ltd. in Paradise, have been declared unsatisfactory as defined by the National Safety Code.

The unsatisfactory rating means the registration of all commercial vehicles in the name of the two companies have been suspended. The companies are not allowed to operate a commercial vehicle on a highway for five years. An application for review can be made after one year.

Highway enforcement officers today ordered Weir�s to remove the licence plates from all their commercial vehicles and to return the plates and registration documents to the registrar within 24 hours.

It�s the second time this month the registrar has ordered this action. Clarke�s Trucking and Excavating Ltd. had its commercial registrations suspended December 12.

Government Services and Lands Minister Dianne Whalen said the registrar had no choice but to take the action after facility audits identified significant safety violations by the two companies. Safety plans and recommendations issued to the companies were not followed, as trucks registered to the two companies were continually failing roadside inspections.

Minister Whalen said companies need to know the department is serious about keeping unsafe vehicles off the road. "This is all about public safety. The incidents of vehicles failing roadside inspections tell the Motor Registration Division that the carriers are not taking these audits seriously. They should because my officials will continue to enforce the regulations of this department."

Weir�s Construction has failed four facility audits. This suspension applies to 35 trucks and 20 trailers registered to the company. During 2002 and 2003, the company was convicted on 20 separate violations of the Highway Traffic Act. Since 2000, the company has been issued 66 orders under the Occupational Health and Safety legislation.

Department officials have been working with Clarke�s Trucking and Excavating, which has seven commercial vehicles, since an audit in August. The company scored 22.5 per cent, with 78 per cent required to pass. On December 11, a roadside inspection of a 1989 Ford Tandem dump truck revealed the company is not following the maintenance plan set down by the department. The truck had deficiences in the steering and braking systems, a bald tire and holes in the floor of the cab that allowed exhaust to enter.

Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications (709) 729-4860 or 690-6157

2003 12 29                                        1:30 p.m.