FIVE major defects have been found in BP’s Victorian fuel tanker fleet during inspections after a triple fatality, but no trucks will be grounded.
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VicRoads completed checks of 20 BP trucks and 19 trailers over the weekend, issuing five major and 20 minor defect notices for what it says are standard maintenance issues between services.
VicRoads director of regulatory services Richard Bell said no trucks were grounded from the inspections.
The major defects affect a major component of a vehicle and BP is addressing all defects before returning the trucks to service, Mr Bell said on Monday.
“The defects reflect standard maintenance issues that occur in between regular services, such as suspension wear and tear, tyres and oil and fuel leaks,” he said in a statement.
“We did find an example of chassis cracking, which falls in a major category and BP have advised us that these repairs will be carried out this week.”
BP recalled its trucking fleet - all 30 vehicles in Victoria and another 20 around the rest of Australia - after Thursday’s triple fatality near Baranduda.
Four-year-old Jack Wallace, his mother Lisa Turner, from Allans Flat, and Yackandandah's Peta Cox died when the trailer of a BP petrol tanker became detached while rounding a bend on Wodonga-Yackandandah Road at Staghorn Flat, crashing head-on and crushing two cars.
Inspections were also carried out on BP’s fuel tankers in NSW and Queensland over the weekend.
More details about those inspections will be available later on Monday, a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator spokeswoman said.
- AAP