John Dee wins 0-licence
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• John Davison has won his bid to start up in haulage again as John Dee — but the size of his operation has been restricted.
This week North Eastern LA Frederick Whalley granted John Dee a two-year national licence to operate the 76 trucks and 200 trailers it is currently running on an interim licence from its Ferryhill, Darlington and Knottingley depots.
Davison had asked for a licence for 166 vehicles and 250 trailers.
His application was opposed by the Road Haulage Association on grounds of repute and financial standing. Davison's previous company, John Dee Group, crashed earlier this year owing hundreds of thousands of pounds to small hauliers.
Whalley also insisted that no further vehicles be authorised for the duration of the licence and warned that he had "serious reservations" about the Dee directors' ability to exercise proper management control. He also criticised the conduct of the directors of John Dee Group, saying that the standard of financial management was well below that expected of any corporate body. Whalley recommended that John Dee's board be strengthened by the appointment of an experienced financial director.
Davison's applications for licences still have to go before the North Western, Eastern, Western and Scottish Licensing Authorities. No date has yet been set for those hearings, but Whalley's decision is likely to set a precedent for his colleagues.
"The judgement is fair and represents a realistic assessment of the situation," says Davison.