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KP Haulage and director face indefinite disqualification

22nd December 2005
Page 29
Page 29, 22nd December 2005 — KP Haulage and director face indefinite disqualification
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Keywords : Tachograph, Haulage

A series of convictions and collusion to hide behind other operators' licences lead to a 10-year licence revocation.

NORTH-EASTERN Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney has revoked the licence held by Crigglesione, West Yorkshire-based KP Haulage following a series of problems, includi nil., drivers' hours and tachograph offences.

The TC also disqualified both the company and director Brenda Jones from holding or obtaining an 0-licence indefinitely and said Ile was unlikely to lift the ban within 10 years. James Kollakowski, the company's transport manager, had lost his repute. said Macartney.

Catalogue of problems

As a result, the TC also refused an application by Wakefield Logistics,of which Jones is a director, for a licence for 20 vehicles and five trailers The TC said Companies House records showed that Karl Palmer resigned as director of KP Haulage on 20 October 2003 and that Jones was appointed director on 25 January 2004. The Traffic Area Office had not been informed of the changes.

The TC heard a list of problems. including that after its move from Barnoldswick in Lancashire, KP haulage had functioned without an authorised operating centre for a long time: it had operated without a transport manager: and there was a catalogue of tachograph problems. The 366 tachograph charts analysed presented an incomplete picture, but there was a

missing 38,376km,which was a concern in itself. The instances of unauthorised use by Wakefield Logistics were numerous, despite repeated and clear warnings. Vehicles had been impounded and appeals to have vehicles returned had been unsuccessful.

Blatant disregard

Another firm, Allard° rlransport, had submitted an application for a seven-vehicle licence. The company's director, Wendy Attardo, had resigned and been replaced by Jones. The application was due to be considered at a public inquiry because of concerns over repute and financial standing, but was withdrawn.

In his decision, the TC remarked on the blatant disregard for the fundamental requirements of sound operation. The traffic examiner's report revealed grave shortcomings. The requirement to notify changes and convictions had been ignored. A change of contract and company entity seemed to have been an attempt to obfuscate matters and avoid detection. The long list of convictions revealed the gravity and depth of the problem, yet the convictions were only the tip of the iceberg.

There had been deliberate operation without a transport manager and collusion with others to masquerade behind the 0-licences of other operators. •


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