TC praises transport manager's honesty
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Operator taken to PI after Vosa reported issues with paperwork, safety inspections and defect reporting By Christopher Walton ANTHONY FLINT, transport manager at Direct Deliveries (Scarborough), has been praised for his honesty during a public inquiry (PI) into his good repute.
Flint was singled out by North East traffic commissioner (TC) Kevin Rooney for his "good level of control over the transport operation" during a PI that saw the company's 0-licence curtailed.
In April a Vosa vehicle examiner inspected the operator's premises, where he reported issues with paperwork, safety inspections and defect reporting by drivers. Direct Deliveries' vehicles had not been submitted on time for routine safety inspections, breaching a commitment to its 0-licence.
The examiner also reported prohibitions issued to vehicles that had defects, one of which was considered avoidable as the defect was picked up on the vehicle's previous safety inspection (three months before the prohibition).
TC Rooney ruled the operator's 0-licence would be curtailed, under Section 26 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, from 25 vehicles and 10 trailers to 16 vehicles and 10 trailers for seven days starting from 28 December.
He also reserved his decision in respect of a variation application made by Direct Deliveries, to increase its fleet from 25 vehicles and 10 trailers to 40 vehicles and 20 trailers, until it provided a satisfactory, independent audit of all compliance systems, as well as a review of performance of annual and roadside tests. The Scarborough-based firm also gave a commitment that all its drivers would complete 14 hours of Driver CPC training before 7 January 2013.
Flint's good repute remains intact: Rooney said Flint had been wellprepared and had given honest answers. "The conduct of a transport manager during a PI is just as important as the activities he or she has been engaged in prior to the hearing. [TCs] expect this key industry appointment to be occupied by trustworthy, reliable and committed people, and for their values to be reflected in their dealings with us," he added.
Transport Manager CPC holders have been subject to individual public sanctions since 4 December 2011, when a change in EU regulations gave TCs the power to call transport managers to PIs separately to 0-licence holders.
This means that a transport manager's repute and professional competence can be considered at any time by a TC. They also have the power to order a disqualification and rehabilitative measures for anyone who is found to have lost their repute or professional competence, but transport managers do have the right to retake the Transport Manager CPC.
Changes in regulations The TC said last year's change in regulations will lead to more CPC holders appearing before TCs so that their role in compliance issues, prosecutions and other offences can be examined against their repute and professional competence.