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Cowboy firm 'most serious' example so far, says Bell

13th July 2000, Page 6
13th July 2000
Page 6
Page 6, 13th July 2000 — Cowboy firm 'most serious' example so far, says Bell
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Il by Mike Jewell and Charles Young

One of the worst ever cases of a cowboy haulier has emerged after a firm: • Forced drivers to break the hours regs; • Was struck off but started up again wIthout an 0-licence; and • Had strong links with another rogue firm which had been convicted for smuggling diesel.

North Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell disqualified Bootle-based Transfreight Services from holding an 0-licence last week; she also plans to disqualify directors Kevin and Janice Malone from holding a licence.

The TC said the firm had showed 'nothing but contempt for the licensing system" and had forced its drivers to falsify tachograph charts and interfere with speed limiters. She revoked the HGV driving licences of 11 drivers for between two and 15 months.

Bell accepted that the drivers were faced with a hard choice between breaching the regulations and giving up their jobs. But she regarded these offences as some of the most serious she had dealt with.

The TC heard that Transfreight had links with another haulier, AJ Lang Transport Services. It had taken over AJ Long's contract with Gwynedd Shipping— another company of which Kevin Malone was a director—after Long's licence was revoked due to maintenance problems and convictions. Longs managing director, Anthony Lang, had been jailed for smuggling rebated diesel.

Long's trucks had been registered in Transfreight's name at the time of its Gwynedd contract and Transfreight had subsequently used them and their drivers on the Gwynedd work.

Transfreight's administration manager was Kathleen Long, the wife of Anthony Long. Transfreight was struck off the Companies' Register in May for failing to submit the required returns, but the vehicles were still being operated.

The TC said the drivers had told her they did not know Transfreight had been struck off and dissolved. Bell decided there had been "no intention to run a fair and honest operation", It emerged that the company, either with the same directors or others, had continued to trade and "reinvented itself" as Hawthorn Transport Services, despite having no 0-licence.

"There is no place in the North Western Traffic Area or any other for such an operator," said Bell.

"The Deputy Commissioner Mark Hinehliffe was told lies when Transfreight's licence was granted in April 1999," she added. "I want to prevent this company from opening up again with false promises. There was a definite and unbroken link between the Longs and the Malones."

The CPS has dropped charges against Transfleet involving defective speed linters.


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