AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Disqualified directors win licence despite bad record

15th April 2004, Page 30
15th April 2004
Page 30
Page 30, 15th April 2004 — Disqualified directors win licence despite bad record
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A COMPANY run by two disqualified directors has won a fresh licence despite a "dreadful" record of prohibitions. But the licence is conditional on a series of undertakings about maintenance and driver training.

Wakefield-based Padgetts Road Haulage lost its previous licence because of its poor maintenance record. It sought a new national licence for nine vehicles before North Eastem Traffic Commissioner,Tom Macartney, at a Leeds public inquiry.

The disqualification of its directors, Stephen and Catherine Padgett, is due to expire at the beginning of June.

After the TC had said he needed to ensure that the licence would be run properly in the future, Stephen Padgett said he had been in the haulage industry for 20 years and felt that he knew how to run a haulage company. In the past he had let things slip and the operation had been let down by its drivers. The TC said there had been a dreadful record of S-marked prohibitions, showing serious maintenance

lapses. Stephen Padgett replied that drivers had not been reporting defects properly, so minor defects became major ones. This would not happen again because he would take personal control.

Drivers would be shown how to undertake daily checks and fill in defect report forms, he promised. They would also be given a starter pack outlining their responsibilities.

Maintenance would be handled by a commercial garage with vehicles inspected every six to eight weeks and roller brake tests at every inspection, Padgett said.

The TC granted a licence with effect from the beginning of June after Padgett had given a series of undertakings, including that he would personally check all the tachograph records.

However the TC added that Padgett had given undertakings in the past which had been broken. He warned that if that happened again Padgett would very likely have to leave the industry for life.