Second inquiry spells revocation
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AJ Long Transport of Liverpool has lost its licence for 25-vehicles and 40-trailers. North Western Traffic Commissioner Keith Waterworth revoked it after the company failed to attend a Leeds public inquiry—its second disciplinary inquiry in 18 months.
Ten trailers were suspended from Long's licence for two weeks in August 1997 foilowing problems with maintenance, untaxed vehicles and hours and tachograph convictions.
The TC said that over the past five years 32 prohibition notices had been issued to the company's vehicles, including 12 since the last public inquiry. There had also beer 22 convictions recorded against the company and its employees, including five since the last inquiry.
Long had failed to notify the convictions or declare them in a licence application form when it applied for 10 more trailers. There was evidence that the company was using an unauthorised operating centre and it had failed to submit financial information,
Waterworth did not take account of a report from Customs St, Excise about the use of rebated fuel in the company's vehicles, 17 of which had been impounded, as criminal proceedings were pending. Revoking the licence, the TO said he was not satisfied that the company met the requirement to be of good financial standing. lie warned that he would look very closely at the directors' fitness to hold an 0licence if they applied for a fresh licence.
• Liverpool Crown Court has adjourned until the end of this month the hearing of charges alleging that managing director Anthony Long and driver Kevin Halligan smuggled over 25.000 litres of untaxed diesel into the UK from the Republic of Ireland.