isqualification for untrustworthy haulier
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An operator who led VOSA a "merry dance" has had his 0-licence revoked by a North-Western DTC.
AN OPERATOR WHO had never spoken to his transport manager has had his 0-licence revoked for offences that included evading fuel duty, using an unauthorised operating centre and operating without a transport manager.
In addition to revoking the fivevehicles, five-trailer licence held by Bolton-based Chris Champion, trading as Chris Champion Haulage, NorthWestern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Elizabeth Perrett also disqualified him from holding an 0-licence for three years.
She was told that Champion had moved, without authority, from his designated operating centre in Heywood to Bolton, and she was concerned some of his vehicles were controlled by Netherlands-based Esteron By.
Traffic and vehicle examiners said they had never met the operation's former transport manager, I lilary Stubbs, who resigned in July 2009. They also gave evidence that an interrupter switch had been found in one vehicle, while another had a faulty speed limiter.
Champion had not provided all the documents requested, and more recent tacho charts seemed to show missing mile age and 4.5-hour driving offences. A series of prohibi tion notices had also been issued.
Other offences included a failure to pay a £60 fixed penalty for a driver's hours offence; a vehicle driven by his brother Carl had been stopped in Spain and penalty notices issued; and, on another occasion, a vehicle driven by Carl was found by police to have been taxed at the wrong rate.
In July 2008, HM Revenue & Customs found traces of kerosene in the tanks of Champion's vehicles. Negotiations with Customs were continuing.
Champion revealed his transport manager was married to one of his drivers, Graham Stubbs. He sent her maintenance records and tacho charts, but had never spoken to her. He had sent all the documents he had since July, when Hilary Stubbs left, to VOSA. He claimed his estranged wife had destroyed the rest.
He was unaware of the attempt to fiddle a tachograph, and he also denied he had been evasive with VOSA. Champion said he had used kerosene in his vehicles after a customer went bust owing him money, and he would have lost everything had he not been able to recoup £42,000.
The penalty served on his brother in Spain was because he had driven on when he couldn't find a safe place to park overnight.
Three of his vehicles worked for a Dutch company, Esteron BV, which gave drivers their instructions. He blamed Esteron for overloading prohibitions as they loaded the trailers Making the revocation and disqualification orders, and holding Hilary Stubbs had lost her repute as a transport manager, the DTC said the running of his fleet had been an unmitigated disaster and his attitude had been slapdash.
The impression she got was that Champion regarded the 0-licensing system like a "pick'n'mix sweets counter", complying with the bits he liked and ignoring the rest.