Sims Worldwide granted 0-licence
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By Ashleigh Wight SIMS WORLDWIDE, the haulier that completed a pre-pack administration last month (CM 22 November), has been granted a new 0-licence despite the Road Haulage Association (RHA) objecting to the application.
The firm was given permission to run 25 vehicles and 25 trailers under its new trading name on 28 November.
The RHA tried to intervene; however, its objection was made after the opportunity to do so had ended on 24 October, during which the Office of the Traffic Commissioner received no objections to the licence being granted.
A spokesman for North West traffic commissioner Beverley Bell confirmed the licence held by Sims Worldwide Logistics will be transferred to the new company. This was granted on condition that it showed it had sufficient financial standing to run the vehicles, by providing the central licensing office with a bank statement covering April 2013 by the end of May.
RHA Northern region director Steve Biddle said: "It was too late to object [formally]. We will wait and see what happens."
The firm, which was previously trading as Sims Worldwide Logistics, applied for an 0-licence under its new trading name on 3 October, three weeks before joint administrators at Leonard Business Recovery were appointed. Its assets were sold to a company with the same directors and shareholders for £72,500 when it entered the administration process.
The Stockport firm incurred debts with HMRC in August, which led to it appointing an administrator. A letter to creditors from the joint administrators said the firm owed £183,000 in VAT as of August 2012. In the letter, the firm blamed increasing fuel costs for its financial troubles. Sims declined to comment.