TC strips transport manager of repute
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roger.browniarbi.co.uk THE TRANSPORT manager of a now defunct haulier has lost her repute and has been disqualified from holding or applying for an 0-licence for five years.
A public inquiry on 19 February heard how Wye flIransport subjected drivers to '`ongoing threats and intimidation" to work excessive hours.
The Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire-based haulage firm ceased trading following a voluntary creditors liquidation in June 2009.
A driver who had worked for the firm told VOSA traffic examiner Annemarie Morgan that he felt there was "too much work and not enough time to do it in".
However, when he complained to about the problem, he said he was told that if he didn't like it, he should "take his gear out of his wagon and go home".
Drivers said the usual response from the company concerning driver complaints was: "We've got drivers queuing up at the gate for your job."
The inquiry heard about several incidents where drivers at Wye had made false entries on tachograph charts and pulled tacho cards. One driver said he met transport manager Karen Jones once in the four years he worked for the company. while another said he saw her twice in three years, with communication usually by telephone or text message.
In a written decision that was issued on 9 March, Nick Jones, West Midlands Traffic Commissioner (pictured). revoked the company's 0-licence with immediate effect, describing the pattern of behaviour by the operator as one of "ongoing threats and intimidation".
He held that Karen Jones, who was also the sole director on the 0-licence, had lost her repute as a transport manager. He disqualified her from holding or applying for an 0licence for five years.
One driver had his HGV licence suspended for a period of five months, and another for one month.
Wye Transport was licensed for eight vehicles and 10 trailers.