Gary Hodgson, road transport lawyer and partner with Ford &
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Warren solicitors, talks about a week of early starts and hectic haulage cases...
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MONDAY
It's 7am and the computer screen flashes up the planned week ahead: court dates, appointments and tasks.
A typical Monday morning: a trip to court to deal with an alleged case of dangerous driving for bridge bashing and a case of an insecure load of straw falling from the vehicle hitting a passing pedestrian. Send a brief to counsel to deal with a London lorry ban in the afternoon. It all seems fairly straightforward, then the phone rings and doesn't stop. A variety of operator licensing and magistrates problems emerge: a new public inquiry because of bad maintenance; a tachograph case: help with a new 0-licence application. Then there's an axle overload for a tipper operator; environmental problems with an 0-licence with a public inquiry; and a French lorry driver has a driving offence in Yorkshire. Before you know it lunch has gone and it's 6.30pm,
TUESDAY
Another 7am start with time to check the post, then its in the car and off to court again for the case of the missing tachograph two yearly check. WhyP Because fines of .2500 are the norm, but before I set off I check the client's video to be used at his forthcoming environmental inquiry for a new operating centre.
A conditional discharge was the order of the day at my court hearing.
Back to the office, where instructions for yet another maintenance public inquiry await, and then I answer the list of e-mail messages from more clients trying to earn a living but falling foul of the morass of transport legislation.
WEDNESDAY
A day in the office while other members of the team deal with the sharp end before the Traffic Commissioners and magistrates. Routine letters, consideration of documents and evidence, letters of advice and a meeting with a client to advise on the new operator licensing financial requirements.
THURSDAY
A 6.30am start with a trip out of the office today for a full day's environmental public inquiry before the Traffic Commissioner. Noise pollution and vibration are the norm at these gatherings. The video saves the day, and thank goodness for the noisy train and traffic. The licence is granted with no conditions. The operator is well pleased: not so the representors.
FRIDAY
A Yam start after a lie-in. Time to catch up on how the teams performed this week, and plans for next week. The day is interrupted by an inquiry about a medical. Verdict: get rid of that trucker's belly! Problems with the Vehicle Inspectorate over another disputed prohibition. Then chase the CPS for statements in a driving-withoutdue-care case; then check some tachograph evidence in an alleged dangerous driving case.
Time to check the e-mails, and am told I'm as difficult to contact as the Pope but I do perform miracles in the end.
Time to call it a day. It's a good job the drivers' hours regulations don't apply to me otherwise I would be expected to do a 13-hour spreadover!