Cootes fined over $500,000

Cootes Transport has been fined over half-a-million dollars in the Sydney Magistrates Court following a string of defect notices issued since the Mona Vale tragedy

The Sydney Magistrates Court has handed down a fine of $440,900 to embattled logistics firm Cootes Transport for a string of safety breaches, with additional costs taking the penalty to just over $525,000.

The decision came after Cootes Transport pleaded guilty to 255 safety and registration breaches detected by NSW's Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) in the months following the fatal Cootes tanker crash in Mona Vale, Sydney, in October 2014. That accident claimed the lives of two people and injured a further five.

The owner of Cootes Transport, McAleese Group, has issued a statement regarding the court's findings.

"Cootes Transport fully accepts the court findings and penalty of $440,900 issued today for registration and safety breaches relating to previous inspections and remains committed to maintaining a safe environment for its drivers and all road users," reads the statement.

"The Company notes the Magistrate's recognition that it has undertaken extensive steps to address the issues identified last year and earlier this year through comprehensive enhancements to its business operations. Cootes Transport has been fully restructured to become a smaller more modern fleet.

"All servicing and testing procedures have been upgraded and Cootes Transport continues to work closely with Roads & Maritime Services NSW (RMS) and independent certifiers to ensure the ongoing integrity of its fleet."

The statement also details the many measures put in place by the business to address safety and maintenance concerns, as outlined below:

>> The undertaking of a complete safety audit of all vehicles

>> Commissioning of 32 new prime movers in the NSW fleet at a cost of $7.2 million

>> De-commissioning of 160 units, reducing average fleet age at June 30 to 2.3 years for prime movers and 4.5 years for fuel tankers in NSW

>> Installation of brake roller testing systems across all three NSW workshops with tolerances set in advance of RMS minimum standards at a total cost of $240,000

>> The acceleration of programs to ‘retro-fit' Electronic Braking Systems on all trucks, now due for completion by December 2014 (five years ahead of requirement date of 2019)

>> A total additional investment of $7.2 million on fleet infrastructure and upgrades and a further $4.5 million on repairs and maintenance

>> Establishment of a second workshop facility at Smithfield to reduce reliance upon third parties

>> Introduction of additional safety checks for all vehicles in between normal servicing cycles

>> Employment of a former RMS inspector to a new role of Quality and Compliance manager with responsibilities including vehicle quality inspections

>> Employment of a new National Workshop manager to drive improvements across all servicing and maintenance and to enhance consistency in approach to same

>> Additional training of maintenance staff by third party specialist in braking system diagnostics and maintenance

>> Maintenance staff being sponsored through the same TAFE courses in heavy vehicle inspection regulations as those utilised by the RMS

>> A former RMS trainer engaged to train mechanical staff in and to reinforce the inspection standards expected by RMS inspectors

>> Independent third party review of all brake testing processes and equipment

>> Monthly reporting and consultation meetings with RMS staff

>> Re-accreditation from NHVAS in fatigue management and mass load management

In related news, the New South Wales EPA recently signed a Determination that all dangerous-goods tankers using NSW roads should be fitted with a Rollover Stability System by January 1, 2019. The move follows an earlier determination that all new dangerous-goods tankers manufactured on or after July 1, 2014, be fitted with the safety technology.

Cootes fined over $500,000

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