Sympathy for a driver who com mitted hours offences because
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he was suffering from depression due to family problems put a Caernarfon haulier before a Flint public inquiry. Megan Williams, trading as 10 Williams, appeared before Welsh Traffic Commissioner David Dixon.
She was granted a five-vehicle licence in March 2000 following the revocation of a previous licence held by her husband, trading in the same name, because of hours offences.
Driver Bruce Hughes had been suffering from depression due to a number of family bereavements and his wife's illness. He did not like stopping for long in one place.
Williams said she had had some sympathy with Hughes' problems and she had since put him on local work. Hughes had been given a final written warning and he realised that if there were any further problems she would have to dismiss him.
Asked if she now had a good group of drivers, Williams replied: have, yes."
After the TC had expressed concern over whether a man suffering from severe depression should be behind the wheel of an HGV, Williams conceded that she had not sought medical advice about this.
Taking no action, the TC took the view that Hughes' behaviour was a one-off and there had been no overall failure in Williams' systems. Dixon remarked that he had had some misgivings when he granted the licence and he was very pleased to give Williams full marks for doing things as they should be done.