MONDAY
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To Cambridge for discussions with the Traffic Area Office staff on potential environmental inquiries. I publish my reasons for my decision not to find against one of the four PSV licence holders I challenged on repute at a Public Inquiry (Pp in Chelmsford recently. Ensure all my briefs for this week's 131's are available, giving each a cursory examination to acquaint myself with each case. I then respond to colleagues correspondence on our interpretation of the revised Schedule 3 provisions in determining mandatory toss of good repute. Flagging out is another issue claiming our attention. Mid-afternoon I catch the train to Heading where I am to address the Chartered Institute of Transport. The meeting is well attended and I am gratified to see a few familiar faces, including that of chairman John Noonan. Address them on my perception of fair and evenhanded enforcement, followed by a stimulating question time.
TUESDAY
A Goods PI at 10:00am with my new colleague Tom Macartney, the North Eastern Commissioner observing from the public seat. A Complex case with many issues including failure to pay WO subsequent to a previous warning, and allegations of the use of an operating centre which was refused at a previous Pl. The decision was appealed against, with the Transport Tribunal dismissing the appeal. It is 3:30pm before I am able to deliver my decision to find against the operator under both Sections 26 and 27, leading to a revocation of the licence and indefinite disqualification of the licence holder.
WEDNESDAY
The big new thing in the recent Budget is the introduction of impounding. Marvellous. In terms of the Traffic Commissioners' role as enforcers I believe this will probably deliver 90% of what we currently lack to ensure that our decision to revoke licences will actually result in that operator's vehicles coming off the road. Face a queue of staff seeking direction on applications for Schedule 4 directions, interim licences and dates for driver conduct hearings. Responding to my encouragement to find 'good" vocational drivers, the Freight Transport Association has invited me to present awards to victorious drivers so I drive to Corby to meet Dave Carnell, the transport manager of Golden Wonder, whose initiative Driver Challenge is.
THURSDAY
Hold a meeting with an applicant's representative seeking an interim licence which I ultimately refuse, but grant an early hearing of the application at PI. Cambridge courtroom for a PSV inquiry. An operator whom I saw just over a year ago when I severely curtailed his authorised vehicles has made a variation application to add vehicles. I am gratified to find most of my previous criticisms have been acted upon, producing a very good annual test record.
FRIDAY
I'm delighted to find that the first two letters in my in-tray are complimentary. The operator appearing at this morning's P115 a restricted licence holder, one of whose directors has been caught speeding on the M25 by the Met police in a goods vehicle specified on the licence. The police have analysed the tachographs which show continuous and repetitive excess speed by this driver over a three-month period, including three weeks after he was stopped by the police. After examining the company's fitness, the statement of expectation made in the application for the licence that vehicles would operate within speed Omits, the driver's conduct as a vocational licence holder and hearing from the company's solicitor, I decide to suspend the company's Operator's Licence for 14 days, but the director gets a 28-day suspension of his vocational licence. As I head home I reflect upon the week with a clutch of next week's cases in my briefcase. Four Pls is about the average as I concentrate on the more serious cases, leaving others to my deputies. I'm looking forward to the weekend — weather prospects for work in the garden and a cycle ride on Sunday morning look quite promising.