IC warns Exel that 0-licence is at risk
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• by Mike Jewell Exel has beer threatened with the loss of its Operator's Licences nationwide following more than 100 convictions for transport-related offences since May1998.
The convictions, many for breaching the London lorry ban, have led to Exel Europe's South Eastern licence being cut by 96 trucks and 95 trailers.
South Eastern Traffic Commissioner Christopher Heaps warned the company that further misdemeanours could lead to the revocation of its 0-licences nationwide.
He said that no less than 69 convictions had been incurred in 2X years for breaches of the London Boroughs' Transport Scheme, and more than 30 convictions for other offences, including overloading, failing to produce tachograph records, defective speed limiters, dangerous brakes and a dangerous load.
Heaps added that he found the London lorry ban convictions to be sufficiently numerous to entitle him to take action. He pointed out that the Transport Tribunal had made it clear that it viewed London lorry ban breaches as serious.
Curtailing the licence, the TC said that Exel had previously received a formal warning at a public inquiry in 1997 at which convictions were considered. Its record since then of more than 100 convictions, although improved, was still unacceptable and he had therefore concluded that further action was required.
"Even when making allowances for proportionality, Exel has incurred an unacceptable number of convictions," Heaps concluded. "After a previous warning and this curtailment, I invite the company to take steps to reduce the incidence of convictions so as to seek to avoid being called to a further public inquiry."
Exers current licence in the area is for 517 trucks and 608 trailers. The company plans to appeal against the decision.