Braking Point

09 Jun 2010 09:27p.m.

Him Here wrote:

In the past I have purchased 2 trucks with NEW FRESH COF's as part of the sale agreements. 1st truck was brought from a Dealer. 4hrs after the cof was done my driver at the time went to pick the truck up from the dealer of which it had these problems: NO HEADLIGHTS (RELAY MISSING) NO WORKING SPEEDO, LEAKING BRAKES, CAN SUSPENSION BROKEN. I had this vehicle retested at another testing station and it failed of course. I won againest the dealer but it took months of lost income. 2nd truck also had a NEW COF, again with problems like Brakes, Massive Rust around the windscreen, leaking brakes, brake shoes needed replacing, cab suspension broken, No working Warning Device for AIR TANKS(BRAKES). I gave up after months of trying to get the 2nd truck sorted and closed by business after too much loss and stress to my family. How can you really test/cof a truck if you don't test drive it or know how to drive one like many at the testing stations. We (NZ) as still far safer than many other places like Western Australia where they HAVE NOT COF system at all. They rely on a service plan only.

28 May 2010 10:28a.m.

shelby wrote:

Totaly agree with annonymous. The LTSA have a lot to answer for.
As for the lack of contact to the lady's son. Tyson Holdings was advised by the police to stay away from her family. It was also not mentioned in the show that Tysons came to the party to pay for half the funeral (ACC paid the other half. This was requested directly by the lady's son to tyson holdings..... Amanda Miller knew this but failed to mention. The things the media edit out of a story to make it more exciting.

27 May 2010 08:57p.m.

Jimima wrote:

Annonymous - Well said, I think this story failed to put a lot in to context.

27 May 2010 01:06p.m.

Annonymous - please wrote:

At NO TIME did your reporter clarify if the truck was legally registered and COF'd at the time of the accident, ie; fully roadworthy.
Lack of air in brakes has nothing to do with testing station rechecks...it's completely to do with driver skill and consciousness of road conditions.
No truck on our roads has 'unlimited' brake capacity and drivers must consider brakes an emergency tool, with engine braking always the first option on hills. Rest assured NO COF is issued if there is a problem with brakes, the operator must remedy and represent EVERY TIME.
All transport operators received a letter like that sent to Wayne Webber; ours had a similar statistic of failure, yet all of our vehicles are fully warranted at all times ie; 100% Roadworthy. Your story failed to put into context the way the percentage of 'failure' was calculated for those letters ie; we 'failed' over a faulty numberplate light, do not operate after 4.00pm anyway,but that contributed to our percentage. What the Land Transport now faces is operators choosing to 'pre-check' privately before going for COF's and losing all record of actual and serious historical faults. While no words will help the young man with his grief...somebody did pay, Wayne Webber lost his business and a woman lost her life due to the actions of a third party, who should have driven more mindful of the conditions and saved his air braking for when it was actually necessary.
Thanks Annon
PS I am in fear of the Land Transport Authority - dare not identify me or my company, having had a similar experience; that was the real story here. LTSA auditors 'passed' a vehicle on our site (without the tools of the testing station) that subsequently failed its COF within days. The issue was serious, but not visible, without the full check. The auditors words were 'it's our job to put people like you out of business' despite an accident free 24 year history and their own failure to find a serious fault. Scary? You bet!