TNT subcontractor in 0-licence shock
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EXCLUSIVE
by Rob Willock • Hot on the heels of the Government's announcement on impounding comes the revelation that haulage giant TNT is employing a subcontractor with no 0-licence.
Last week Cl/ identified a 7.5-tonner running in TNT Retail Express livery being operated by Walsall-based haulier JS Express International. Investigations revealed that the company has four HGVs on long-term contract-hire from Kenning to service its TNT work. They do not display 0-licence discs. Extra vehicles are hired in when needed from other local rental firms including Ryder at Warley.
If the impounding regulations were currently in force, these vehicles could be seized.
The West Midlands Traffic Area Office has confirmed that JS Express has no 0licence. The company did apply for an 0licence to operate six vehicles and one trailer in August 1997 but the application was incomplete. In October, following numerous unanswered requests for the missing information, the Traffic Commissioner cancelled the application.
However, JS Express continues to operate as if it had the correct paperwork. Company director Anthony Shaw insists that it is operating legally under the authority of someone else's 0-licence. He refuses to say whose, but stresses that TNT is happy with the situation. "TNT asked everyone to provide an 0-licence 10 days ago," he says. "I was able to provide them with one—you can ask them if you like."
But as JS Express is hiring and operating vehicles in its own name, it must have its own licence. On learning this, Shaw admitted: "We've made a mistake. We thought that was OK."
As Commercial Motor went to press TNT's marketing director Steve Doig had been unable to verify the validity of JS Express' documentation—but the company is known to guard its good repute fiercely. D CM has made its findings available to the enforcement authorities, who plan to investigate further. However, the TAO says it is hampered by a classic Catch 22 situation: any company which is running without a licence is outside its jurisdiction.
The Vehicle Inspectorate is not bound by this anomaly.