Cummings gives LA his word
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II A haulage company run by a man with a string of convictions for unauthorised use and forging of international journey permits has successfully applied for an Operator's Licence in the North East.
Petmiston, of Whitley Bridge, near Goole, had applied for an international licence for four vehicles and trailers, but Licensing Authority Frederick Whalley only granted a two-year licence for two vehicles and trailers on condition that no additional units were used.
Senior traffic examiner Richard Leighfield said Penniston director Ronald Cummings had been involved with Black and White Haulage when it was prosecuted tor operating vehicles without VED.
Cummings then moved to an off-shore company on the Isle of Man, but Manx vehicles are treated as foreign ones, and he was found to be operating trucks over the maximum weight allowed for the island.
Soon after he became transport manager of Goldfleet which was convicted of unauthorised use of vehicles in 1985 and 1986. Goldfieet was also done for having a unit without a test certificate.
He formed Lagos in 1986 and was successfully prosecuted for overloading two years later, Leighfield said. Last year the company was convicted of a tachograph offence, of unauthorised use and of operating a vehicle without an excise licence. Cummings said he was also aware of two pending prosecutions.
He told the LA he was sick of dodging about. He had previously worked for companies that had not paid up, and he was now working for a responsible firm and if a licence was granted he promised to uphold the law to the best of his ability.
Whalley said Cummings had been involved in companies with a record of illegal operation, and had admitted that he was currently operating vehicles without authority.
Whalley said under normal circumstances, he would not have described Cummings as being of good repute. But in the light of assurances from Cummings, Whalley was persuaded to give him another chance to prove himself.