Haulier broke promises
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• An investigation is to be launched into claims that the wife of a bankrupt County Durham haulier has started up in business without an Operator's Licence.
North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Keith Waterworth revoked the licence for three vehicles and three trailers held by Ferryhill Station-based Robert Bennett, trading as RA Bennett Haulage, when he failed to appear at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry.
Department of Transport vehi cle examiner Gordon Whittaker said that since December 1995 a total of 14 prohibition notices had been imposed on Bennett's vehicles and trailers.
Undertakings had been given at public inquiries in March and December 1996 that inspections would be carried out every four weeks. Examinations in June showed that this had been extended to six weeks on occa
sions and there were no records available between August 1996 and March 1997.
Bennett claimed the records had been last or taken by his previous fitter, as had the driver defect reports, said Whittaker. There was also little evidence that the authorised operating centre had ever been used.
Waterworth said Bennett had twice been convicted for speeding and once for a second-axle overload. The three vehicles on the licence were not taxed and a bankruptcy order had been lodged against The three vehicles him. It was also
Be Haulage without applying for a licence.
Waterworth said it was clear that Bennett was not capable of operating vehicles in a fit and serviceable condition and revoked his licence. He would allow him to make representations before deciding whether to disqualify him from holding an 0-licence in the future.