Operator told to find full-time manager
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DTC demands that company finds a new transport manager because CPC holder was often hard to contact.
AN OPERATOR WHOSE transport manager worked full-time elsewhere has been ordered to find a replacement by the end of June or risk losing its licence.
West Midlands Deputy Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington issued Evesham-based Vale Logistics with a final warning. The company's transport manager was unable to fulfil his role because he worked five days a week at a recruitment agency and could not provide continuous, effective control.
The DTC said that a two-vehicle national 0-licence was granted to Vale Logistics last September and that the company was in its infancy.
An application was made to upgrade the licence to international and to replace transport manager Rowan Wainwright with Sarhjit Bassey. Information came to light involving convictions against Bassey at Worcester Crown Court.As a result, a traffic examiner visited the firm's premises in November. She reported that Bassey was the sole driver and seemed to be carrying out the functions conducted by a nominated transport manager. Bassey was never approved as a transport manager by the Traffic Commissioner. Both applications were withdrawn after the call to public inquiry was made.
Bassey who doesn't hold a CPC, said the current directors were his wife and Alan Cosgrove.
Wainwright worked full-time for a recruitment agency in Worcester. They had invited Wainwright to be transport manager. although he had been waiting for the results of his CPC examination.
Bassey added that his main duty was driving, while Wainwright was still acting as transport manager. They had been offered international work.but, since it had taken so long to upgrade the licence. they lost the opportunity This is why the applications were withdrawn.
Wainwright worked only on Saturdays and Bassey sometimes had difficulty contacting him by phone.
The DTC said this was a problem, especially since Wainwright was in full-time employment elsewhere for a company not engaged in transport.
Consequently, he could not have continuous and effective control of the transport operation.
Bassey said there had not been any problems because the vehicle was hired and the hire company looked after the maintenance.
The DTC said that if Bassey was put forward as transport manager, he would not be accepted until he had appeared before a Traffic Commissioner for approval. As a consequence. the firm needed to find someone else, The DTC accepted an undertaking that by 30 June the company would have a new transport manager. approved by the Traffic Area Office, who could properly fulfil the role.