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Banned operator is accused of threats
Page 8
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• by Mike Jewell Death threats against a traffic examiner by a County Durham haulier left him on long-term sick leave and unable to work, a public inquiry has been told.
North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney heard that Derek McArdle had threatened to kill James Rose while he was investigating drivers' hours and tachograP11 offences committed by drivers of Birtley-based DMC Freight.
Rose was said to be so seriously affected that he remained off work and was unable to attend the hearing.
However, McArdle categorically denied the allegations, claiming that they may have been made by a rival haulier who had told the examiner to "watch his back".
This case comes amid revelations that a memo about the increase in threats and intimidation to traffic staff has been circulated to all commissioners (CM6-12 September).
In McArdle's case, the IC decided that he could not take account of the alleged threats in view of the conflicting evidence and the absence of Rose himself. But, in revoking the haulier's Operator's Licence indefinitely, he attacked the firm's "dreadful history."
Macartney heard how McArdle's business had developed severe financial difficulties. The whole workforce had been made redundant and the 14-strong fleet reduced to one vehicle.
However, Macartney re marked that there had been 47 convictions against the partners and their drivers. He was particularly concerned by 10 convictions in August 1999 for permitting drivers to take insufficient rest.
He concluded: "I find a gross lack of professionalism in the way in which the partners of this business have run a haulage firm of a reasonable size on a standard international licence."