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I CASE FOUR
Page 22
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Delayed decision after two-day inquiry
A LOGISTICS FIRM where the transport manager had little control over maintenance must wait to learn what action will be taken following a two-day public inquiry.
T&P Logistics, based in Wednesbury, appeared before West Midlands Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones. The company had previously appeared before the TC in 2007, when the licence was curtailed to seven vehicles and five trailers because of drivers' hours and tacho offences, and the then transport manager, director Terence Ward, was held to have lost his repute as a transport manager. The firm was seeking a rise in its licence to 10 vehicles and seven trailers.
Vehicle examiner Mark Jewess revealed that five prohibitions had been issued since the previous public inquiry, and that it seemed like Graham Thomas, the existing transport manager, had little or no authority to make decisions when it came to matters of maintenance.
Jewess examined five vehicles and two trailers and issued one immediate S-marked prohibition to a trailer and two delayed prohibitions ( CM 9 April).
Traffic examiner Tracy Love said there was an electronic drivers' hours recording system where offences were given points over a three-month period. If during that period a driver amassed 30 points, he was given a written warning.
Love was concerned that at the end of three months, the points were wiped off and the driver started again at zero. Ward was unwilling to alter the system, saying a lot of cash had been spent on getting it installed. That, plus the fact Ward was in charge of maintenance, was an indication of how much control he still had.
Thomas said that he would like to have full control over the transport systems, but was being held back.
He added that there had been a transitional period, but he now dealt with everything. He agreed the points system needed changing, but denied he had been prevented from performing the functions of transport manager.
Director Peter Ward said that Thomas had turned the company around and there was now a different approach to procedures.
For the company, David Glover pointed out that a recent Road Haulage Association audit report showed a good result.