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Back in the fold after Coulthard scandal

27th May 2004, Page 18
27th May 2004
Page 18
Page 18, 27th May 2004 — Back in the fold after Coulthard scandal
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How long does it take to regain lost repute? In the case of Martin Jolly, about four years. Mike Jewell reports.

ONE OF THE FIRMS involved in the Hayton Coulthard tacho scandal which cost several Scottish operators their licences in 2000 has been allowed back into the industry.

Newton Stewart-based Martin Jolly Truck Hire appeared before Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken at a Dumfries public inquiry to seek a new international licence for 10 vehicles and five trailers.

In 2001 director and transport manager Martin Jolly's former company, Martin Jolly Transport, had its licence for 22 vehicles and 22 trailers revoked by the then Scottish TC Michael Betts. Seven of its drivers had been convicted of falsifying tachograph records while it subcontracted for Hayton Coulthard.

The TC also disqualified Jolly from holding or obtaining an 0-licence for three years and banned his sons Tom and Lee Jolly for two years. That decision was upheld on appeal; the Transport Tribunal described it as a bad case. The TC said that in the application form Martin Jolly

was named as the sole director of Martin Jolly Truck Hire, but enquiries revealed that Lee Jolly was also a director. Jolly blamed an administrative oversight.Additionally the TC said an application for an international licence was inconsistent with promises that vehicles would travel no further than Manchester. Appearing for the company, Michael Kilkerr said that with the benefit of hindsight Martin Jolly had realised that becoming contracted to Hayton Coulthard was a fatal flaw as it resulted in control being taken away from him. If a

new licence was granted he promised more hands-on control and computerised tracking.

The TC said it was a great pity that the south-west of Scotland should be associated with companies losing their licences. She had some anxieties in a case like this with such a bad history.

Granting a licence for five vehicles and five trailers, but banning any fleet increases for 18 months, the TC said she had to be very cautious with an operator such as this but she was giving Jolly a chance to prove that his repute had been genuinely restored.