BR'" Haulier learns his lesson
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• A Coventry haulage contractor who threatened to close his business down when his company's licence was suspended in September is back on the road.
At a Birmingham public inquiry West Midland Traffic Commissioner John Mervyn Pugh lifted the suspension of the 12-vehicle/two-trailer licence held by Truck and Plant Services (Coventry).
The licence was suspended in September because of concerns over vehicle maintenance. At the time director Kevin Kennel said he would close the business down as he did not have any choice (CM 18-24 September).
For the company, Fred Randle said that on the last occasion Kennel had been upset and he apologised for what he had said at that time. Surrendering his own licence, which authorised the operation of four vehicles, and seeking the lifting of the suspension of the company's licence, Kennel said all his vehicles had passed annual tests since September.
There was a nil drivers daily defect reporting system in place and he had written to his drivers and mechanics pointing out their responsibilities. If he was allowed to retain his licence his intention was to employ a specialist transport manager to relieve him of some of the responsibility.
Pointing out that Kennel had spent a lot of time and effort in putting in the vehicle maintenance system recommended by the department, Randle said: "The suspension has been a great shock to him."
Lifting the suspension, the commissioner said that Kennel appeared to have "got his house in order". He said that if the company received any further prohibition notices giving rise to concern it would be off the road.
"It is necessary on occasions for Traffic Commissioners to inject a shock into operators," said Mervyn Pugh.
Kennel replied: "It has worked for me."