TC Denton disqualifies haulier for appalling safety standards
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SOUTH EAST traffic
commissioner (TC) Nick Denton has disqualified a north London haulier for his "appalling" approach to safety standards.
Following a public inquiry and driver conduct hearing in London last month, the TO also revoked the 0-licence of Enfield-based John Gallagher, trading as Express Freight Services, disqualified him from acting as a transport manager, and took away his LGV licence for six months. Vosa conducted an investigation into the operator authorised for two vehicles and two trailers. The TO was told Gallagher had: • been convicted of 12 drivers' hours and tachograph offences. He was fined £1,920; • operated defective vehicles, including one vehicle that had a damaged tyre; • been issued with five fixed-penalty notices, totalling £860, and five prohibitions for failure to adhere to drivers' hours regulations; • failed to produce routine safety inspection records for his vehicles; • no written defect reporting system in place;
• a poor record when vehicles were presented for MoT.
Denton said: "Gallagher's appalling record on drivers' hours was shocking."
Summing up
John Gallagher had no system for planning regular safety inspections and had not told the TC about a change of maintenance contractor.