0-licence curtailed for repeated breaches TC Denton cut the authorisation
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
of ATK Truck Services for serious vehicle and driver infringements By Roger Brown NICK DENTON, traffic commissioner (TC) for London and the South East, has curtailed the 0-licence of ATK Truck Services saying the firm had allowed "serious and repeated" breaches of vehicle and driver regulations to take place.
Following a January public inquiry in Eastbourne, the TC cut the licence of the aggregates specialist — based at two facilities in West Drayton, London, and one in Crawley, West Sussex — from 13 to 10 vehicles, adding that it had allowed its drivers' hours monitoring system to become "lacklustre and ineffective".
A Vosa investigation in July 2012 found no issues with paperwork relating to vehicle insurance, MoTs and tachograph calibration. However, a traffic examiner discovered that one of the drivers had regularly not taken the required rest after driving for four-and-a-half hours, while another had driven without achieving the Driver CPC qualification.
Also, two of the drivers had been working illegally, because their LGV driving licences had been revoked, and several had committed offences under drivers' hours regulations. Denton also heard that drivers had failed to keep a record of some parts of their journeys.
Giving evidence to the TC, boss Ajaz Ahmed said he had put measures in place to check the licences held by his drivers since the examiner's visit and arranged training for his employees. Denton also noted there had been some improvements on drivers' hours compliance but said it was still a "work in progress".
Ahmed told the TC he would undertake driver licence checks with the DVLA every six months and get an external body to audit his maintenance and drivers' hours procedures every three months for the next year.
TC Denton said he did not want to see any application from ATK to increase its licence authorisation until the business had received two satisfactory, consecutive audits.
He added: "Mr Ahmed allowed the drivers' hours monitoring system to become lacklustre and ineffective, and it was not given the attention it deserved.
"I have reduced the licence in order to cap the operator's activity while he makes the necessary improvements and sustains them."
The TC also ruled that Ahmed's repute in his role as transport manager on the licence was retained, albeit in a "considerably battered state".
Summing up Drivers must take the appropriate breaks and rest. The TCs will take a dim view of operators who allow their drivers to work excessive hours and become fatigued while driving.