Haulier loses appeal against revocation and disqualification
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roger.brown@rbi.co.uk HAULAGE BOSS George Garmston, who used an unlicensed yard, committed tachograph offences and ran an unspeciied truck, has lost an appeal against the revocation of his O-licence and one-year disqualiication.
In a written decision, upper tribunal judge Frances Burton also upheld the decision made in July last year by West Midlands Deputy Trafic Commissioner (DTC) Lester Maddrell, that Garmston – sole proprietor of George Garmston Light Haulage in Oldbury, West Midlands – had lost his repute as an operator and transport manager.
A VOSA investigation found that Garmston – who ran six LGVs – had used an unlicensed operat ing centre in Wednesbury from 2008, but took no steps to add it to the licence until July 2009.
At a court hearing in May 2009, Garmston was convicted of seven drivers’ hours offences, and three of his drivers were convicted of related offences – neither of which Garmston notiied the TC’s ofice about. The public inquiry heard evidence of 72 infringements recorded on 139 tacho charts produced by the irm.
One of the company’s trucks, stopped during a routine check on the A454 in September 2009, was found to have been removed from the licence in June the previous year.
The driver did not hold a Category C driving licence and his previous licence had been revoked in June 2009.
In his appeal, Garmston argued that the DTC’s ruling failed to take into account the impact of the recent breakdown of his marriage, gave insuficient credit for his previously “unblemished record” and appointment of a new transport manager.