Cootes Transport faces 300 charges in NSW
Date
February 18, 2014
The trucking company behind a fatal tanker crash in Sydney’s north faces more than 300 charges following safety inspections.
Cootes Transport has been subject to safety and compliance inspections since 2013. The company made the headlines in October when two people died after one of its fuel tankers crashed in Mona Vale.
The inspections have revealed major defects in the trucks, including faulty brakes and suspension faults.
On Tuesday night, Roads and Maritime Services confirmed more than 300 charges had been laid against the national trucking company.
More than 220 court attendance notices have been issued relating to interstate registration, while 86 are for operating unsafe vehicles.
Five charges relate to mass and two to load restraint offences for fuel leaks, RMS said in a statement.
The company grounded trucks in Victoria last week amid safety concerns and a number of vehicles are off the road in NSW after Roads Minister Duncan Gay ordered full compliance inspections.
Mr Gay told the ABC on Tuesday that while some trucks were off the road, "we don't apologise for putting safety and people's lives ahead of anything else".
"It is a situation that we've been closely monitoring and we do believe there is enough fleet operating if people are sensible," he said.
McAleese, the owner of Cootes Transport, has sought an extra day to prepare a review of the timing and details of a restructure of Cootes, which employs about 1000 people, after seeking a suspension of trading from the stock exchange.
Authorities made snap inspections of Cootes fuel tankers in Victoria on Friday, which led to the grounding of 25 of the 35 trucks and trailers inspected. Faults included defects in brakes, air bags, loose bolts and oil leaks.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cootes-transport-faces-300-charges-in-nsw-20140218-32yfn.html#ixzz2ti14znEH