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TC gets tough on Cumbrian 'bandit country operators
Page 16
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Rogue operators In Cumbria face a crackdown after North Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell described the area as "bandit country".
Bell made the statement at a disciplinary inquiry involving Carlisle-based Llskstar, trading as LOH Logistics, after the company applied to double the authorisation on its licence for two vehicles and two trailers.
Traffic examiner Peter Healey said an examination of the company's tachograph records revealed that there were 16 charts missing in relation to two drivers and that one driver had exceeded fourand-a-half hours' driving without taking the required break.
The IC said one of her concerns about the company related to a serious road traffic accident on the Al in
Cambridgeshire in January when police had been unable to find a tachograph record in one of its vehicles.
She did not accept driver Barry Fern's explanation as to why the chart was not there. Neither did she accept his explanation on how the acci dent occurred as it did not tally with police evidence.
Transport manager John Goddard said an investigation of Fern's work pattern on the days before the accident confirmed that it was entirely within the law.
He said he had been assured by Fern that he ha not touched the tachograph.
In reply to the TC, Fern sal nothing had been found whe he was body-searched by th poke.
Director Louise Goddar, said Fern was no longer wit the company as he had writte off two vehicles.
Bell reserved her decisio over what action to tak against the company an whether to grant its applica tion to increase authorisatio on the licence.
However, she said she wa extremely concerned abou the high level of non-compli ance with even basic rules ii Cumbria. She warned thal although the county had heel left largely alone during th, foot-and-mouth epidemic th, enforcement authorities wen again turning their attentioi towards it.