The crash last year killed six people in the accident on 22 December and the inquiry is being heard at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
So far the court has heard a crewman say that the driver was slumped at the wheel. A number of questions have also been raised including relating to driver assessment before shifts started and regarding the presence of unopened beer bottles in the cab. Since the crash, it was revealed that collection rounds and the use of vehicles had been modified.
The inquiry is expected to last a number of weeks and has seen the production of a minute of agreement document covering a number facts among the parties involved.
These facts include that the condition of the road had “no effect with regard to the incident” and the weather at the time was good. Visibility for road users is described as being “excellent” at the time of the incident.
The vehicle involve was a green coloured Leyland DAF Model FAG CF, large goods vehicle, registration SB62 NKD.
Sourced
Glasgow city council entered into a four year contract with Imperial Commercials for the supply of the lorries, says the document. It also notes that the truck was sub contracted to Tekbo for refitting as bin lorries. And the document notes that the “truck was legitimately sourced, converted, tested and supplied under said contract.”
Additional vehicle safety features specified by the council included a handbrake interlock.
Testing of the vehicle, notes the minute of agreement, found that “only moderate pressure needed to be exerted on the pedal to achieve significant rises in engine speed”.
The inquiry is expected to look into issues ranging from driver training, health through to the collection round practices and the planning for work in areas where the public were likely to be nearby.
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