Haulier manages to set the record straight
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Fateh Logistics wins new 0-licence bid, after calling in a consultant to set the operation straight.
A HAULIER CRITICISED at a public inquiry last year for its "wholly unacceptable" performance has won a new bid for an 0-licence after employing a consultant to overhaul its systems.
At a public inquiry in Eastbourne, the Traffic Commissioner (TC) for the South Eastern and Metropolitan Area, Philip Brown, granted Fateh Logistics, based in Hounslow, Middlesex, a licence for four vehicles and four trailers, to extend to five vehicles and five trailers from June 2010 subject to the company meeting financial undertakings.
The firm, which had previously listed its operating centre as being in Slough. Berkshire, was granted authorisation for five vehicles and five trailers in January 2006. However, in July 2009 a VOSA investigation highlighted serious shortcomings in preventative maintenance systems at the company. as well as apparent drivers' hours and tachograph of fences. At the subsequent public inquiry in Bristol in November 2009, Fiona Harrington, deputy TC for the Western Traffic Area, said she was concerned that since the original licence was granted, vehicles operated by the company had been subjected to 19 vehicle examiner inspections.
These resulted in four immediate prohibitions and eight delayed prohibitions, with the majority of these relating to trailers. The operator produced 208 tachograph records to a VOSA traffic examiner in July last year, in response to the examiner's request for all tacho records.
However, the records produced covered only four drivers and just two of the four vehicles specified in the operator's possession. Several drivers' hours of fences were identified, as well as a large number of missing kilometres.
The previous licence was eventually revoked in February 2010.
Brown said the situation at the company was now "much better" since it brought in a transport consultant — J Owen Logistics Consultancy, based in Shrivenham, Wiltshire — to implement proper procedures to cover driver walkround checks, tachograph and drivers' hours records.
He added: -I'm more confident after the evidence I've heard. There is every chance you have turned a corner, will be a competent operator in the future, and are likely to comply. On balance, I am satisfied you do fulfil the requirement of good repute and professional competence."