'llE" Concern over repute
Page 26
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• Willenhallbased LDS Haulage has been granted a onevehicle/one-trailer licence at a Birmingham public inquiry. The application had been adjourned because West Midland Deputy Traffic Commissioner Alan Cattell was concerned about the repute of the company's nominated transport manager, Brian Biddle.
In July a licence held by LDS Transport was revoked and Biddle, its managing director, was disqualified from holding an 0-licence for two years (CM 23-29 July). The revocation and disqualification orders followed Riddle's conviction on charges of aiding and abetting drivers to falsify tachograph charts. He was ordered to pay fines and costs of ,C2,900 (CM 11-17 Dec 1997).
Director Margaret Biddle told Cartell the company did not have anyone else but her husband it could use as CPC holder. The offences had been connected with tachographs. Her husband was now solely a driver and she was checking his tachograph charts.
After Cattell said Brian Biddle had been disqualified because he had lost his good repute, and he had suggested the company look for a new CPC holder, Mrs Biddle replied that unfortunately the business did not warrant someone else coming into it to do that job (Cl'! 24-30 Sept).
When the r-ase came before Deputy Commissioner Lester Madrell, Mrs Biddle said that a Roy Laver, who was an ownerdriver working for the same customer, Denholin Freight International, of Felixstowe, had now agreed to act as the company's transport manager. Madrell said the licensing system existed for the protection of the public and the haulage industry itself. It was not appropriate that when someone was disqualified they could "pop up" again and just continue in all but name. He was concerned whether Laver, who lived in Luton and who made frequent runs to Italy, could undertake the transport manager's duties.
Mrs Biddle said Laver regularly came to the West Midlands and he had a mobile phone so that he could be contacted at any time. She had learnt how to read tachograph charts so that she could check them herself.
Madrell granted the licence, on condition that Brian Biddle would not participate in the management of the company.