Jimboomba Woman Sparks Review Of Trailer Rego Procedures

[Miss B]

Jimboomba Woman Sparks Review Of Trailer Rego Procedures

Full Article Here

A JIMBOOMBA woman’s three-year battle with Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) has resulted in an overhaul of the Department’s procedures around the registration of light trailers.

Annette Bird (pictured) bought a trailer from Brisbane manufacturer Trek Leisure Trailers in July 2008 to transport her six dogs to and from shows.

Upon using the $15,135 trailer, doors on the compartment containing Ms Bird’s dogs repeatedly flew open and after just two trips, large cracks appeared in the welds and panels of the trailer.

The trailer’s tare weight compliance plate stated its tare weight (weight while empty) was 400kg, with its allowable weight fully loaded being 750kg.

However a Queensland Transport inspector found the trailer’s tare weight was actually $720kg, leaving only a 30kg payload capacity -half the weight of just one of Ms Bird’s Rottweilers.

As the manufacturer refused to act, and having bought it pre-registered, Ms Bird approached DTMR for help. The Department refused to de-register the trailer or take action, saying the laws were “very grey” around trailers.

And because the trailer weighed 720kg when empty - 30kg less than the legal maximum weight of a light trailer - technically it complied with regulations. Ms Bird told DTMR she did not pay over $15,000 for a trailer to drive it around empty.

“They just said there was nothing they could do. They have constantly told me it is my problem - I purchased the trailer,” she said.

Ms Bird experienced years of to-ing and fro-ing with both the State and federal road departments, the Office and Fair Trading, and the ACCC, all of which would not accept responsibility.

She also had evidence the trailer was fraudulently registered in the first place as she did not sign registration papers said to be in her name.

Failing to get any action from authorities, she launched a civil lawsuit against Trek Leisure Trailers, costing thousands of dollars, and while the court awarded damages in her favour, the trailer company refused to pay. The Office and Fair Trading eventually took the matter to court.

It consulted with an engineer who found the trailer was dangerously under-engineered for its purpose, and the chassis was not even strong enough to support the trailer when empty.

Trek Leisure Trailers was fined $7000, but Ms Bird maintains it was not enough.

“They’re still making trailers. I’m out of pocket $30,000, okay, that’s bad enough in itself, I wear that and I understand that, but what I cannot accept is the safety issue out on the road and the Department of Transport doesn’t give a damn,” she said.

Ms Bird subsequently wrote to the Queensland Ombudsman last year to highlight the need for a review of the light-trailer industry and particularly the issues into whether Trek Trailers should be allowed to continue to trade.

The Ombudsman investigated whether DTMR took all appropriate action against the trailer manufacturer within its jurisdiction, and whether its conduct in the handling of Ms Bird’s complaint was reasonable. He finalised his report on June 29 this year, forming eight opinions about the Department’s administrative actions.

Ombudsman Phil Clarke made 12 recommendations to the DTMR, including that it consider a requirement that all persons seeking to register light trailers produce a current safety certificate and/or recent weighbridge certificate, that DTMR develop a State wide complaint and investigations management policy and procedure, and that it create an information sheet about the manufacture, compliance and registration of light trailers which explains how to lodge a complaint with each relevant agency.

Proecedures Reviewed

A SPOKESMAN for the Department of Transport and Main Roads told the Jimboomba Times that in light of the Ombudsman’s recommendations, the Department was undertaking a review of procedures around the registration of light trailers and had implemented relevant recommendations.

He also said the Department took all lawful action that was appropriate and within DTMR’s jurisdiction in regards to Ms Bird’s case.

“The Department’s conduct was in accordance with the legislation and operational procedures at the time,” he said.

“The trailer purchased was not fit for the purpose intended by the owner, however it was otherwise compliant with the relevant regulations.”

The spokesman said the DTMR regularly reviewed operational policies and procedures to improve its services and ensure the safety of road users.

[ari.g]

“The Department’s conduct was in accordance with the legislation and operational procedures at the time,” he said.

“The trailer purchased was not fit for the purpose intended by the owner, however it was otherwise compliant with the relevant regulations.”

The spokesman said the DTMR regularly reviewed operational policies and procedures to improve its services and ensure the safety of road users.

The poor lady. Just want you want to do, tow around a piece of crap you can put 30kg on

[KatrinaM]

I bought a Trek trailer a few years ago. It was a lemon too, fell apart on the trip home, the lady who owns the company was rude, difficult and a liar. She didn't care less that it rattled apart, the doors fell off and the hinges and latches failed, told me it wasn't designed to travel on bitumen roads outside urban areas so it was my fault. I repaired it myself and use it every week would never get or recommend the company to anybody.

[sandgrubber]

Surely, the government has ways to force the trailer company to pay. . . garnish something? take away business licenses?

[Keira&Phoenix]

Surely, the government has ways to force the trailer company to pay. . . garnish something? take away business licenses?

That is what I was thinking. Why hasn't something been done to force the company to pay what it has already been told by a court to pay to the woman they ripped off.

[poodlefan]

Costs order.. sheriffs.. enough said.