Lack of transparency Leads to 0-licence cut
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Haulage boss's connection with waste-management client had not been disclosed to Traffic Commissioner
A TRANSPORT SOLICITOR who also runs a fleet of trucks has escaped with a warning and licence curtailment from Scottish Traffic Commissioner (TC) Joan Aitken after she said he had not been transparent in his dealings with her.
Michael Allan runs MSA Logistics, with operating centres in Grangemouth and Inverurie. The firm has a licence for 10 vehicles and seven trailers, However, Aitken said her attention had been drawn to an application by MSA Logistics to add a new operating centre in Inverness to its licence without any increase in vehicle authority.
Allan had represented local waste haulier Munro & Sons at a May 2009 public inquiry (PI), where its licence was revoked for serious maintenance failings (CM 4 June 2009). VOSA investigations subsequently showed that four of Munro's vehicles had immediately been transferred to MSA Logistics' 0-licence following that inquiry However, this connection had not been disclosed to the TC by Allan prior to making the variation application, which, along with several other issues, prompted her to call the firm to a Pl.
Prior to the PI, Allan wrote to Aitken stressing that he was not doing the work as a favourto Munro & Sons.
He added: -This was an opportunity for me to get into waste management and it was a business that, as far as I am aware, is doing quite well and will be profitable."
Al the PI.Allan said that he had taken over the bin lorry and refuse collection work from Munro & Sons, which effectively ran itself, rather than the skip hire operation. He also admitted use of an unauthorised operating centre.
Aitken concluded that Allan was not acting as a front for William Munro or any part of the Munro Group.
Nonetheless, she felt that due to Allan's lack of transparency, a licence curtailment to five vehicles was merited.
She added: "I warn him as to his repute and that he must not be casual in his dealings with me, for mine are serious concerns in the interest of road safety and fair competition.
He is not a novice, nor should he act as an ingenue in my jurisdiction."