Playing consequences
Page 24
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Every applicant for an Operator's Licence must give undertakings to the Traffic Area that the rules on tachographs and drivers' hours will be followed and proper records will be kept; and that vehicles will stick to speed limits.
Breaking these undertakings can lead to action against the licence. The Traffic Commissioner has a number of options: • Revocation: Without a licence your vehicles will be off the road. • Suspension: All or some of the authorised vehicles can be suspended for as long as the Traffic Commissioner feels appropriate.
• Curtailment: The number of vehicles authorised on an 0-licence can be reduced pending a variation application.
The TC could also question the good repute of the operator and transport manager—and criminal convictions could lead to a mandatory loss of repute. This happens where an operator has been convicted of road transport offences which the TC feels are serious.
If there is no mandatory loss of repute the TC will consider the good and bad aspects of the operator's conduct, taking into account any matter he feels is appropriate.
A driver who breaks the speedlimiter and tachograph rules can be summoned to appear before the TC, who will consider his fitness to hold an HGV licence, even if he has not been convicted in a court. Such suspensions can extend to a period of months.
Speed-limiter and tachograph infringements are always taken very seriously by the TCs.