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Revocation after firm's fleet goes missing

2nd July 2009, Page 24
2nd July 2009
Page 24
Page 24, 2nd July 2009 — Revocation after firm's fleet goes missing
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THE LICENCE HELD in the North-Western Traffic Area by Sheerness-based Al-Le Logistics Northern has been revoked with immediate effect.

In addition, the company has been disqualified from holding or obtaining an 0-licence for an indefinite period.

The Southport firm, which holds a licence for 10 vehicles and 10 trailers, had been called before Beverley Bell (shown right), the North-Western Traffic Commissioner, because of issues to do with vehicle maintenance; failing to operate from its authorised operating centre and failing to notify convictions. Vehicle examiner David Hartness said that after failing to get an appointment to carry out a maintenance investigation, he received a phone call from Alan Bennett, the father of directors Darren and Ryan Bennett.

Alan Bennett said he owned the land at Southport and that the company no longer operated from there. Hartness had never seen the firm's vehicles and he did not know where they were.

All the annual vehicle tests appeared to have been done at the Gillingham test station.

There was a 30.7% roadside prohibition rate and a 75% annual test failure rate. The TC said a company search revealed that the maintenance contractor, Technique Commercials, was based in Sheerness and that a director of that firm was Alan Bennett.

Former transport manager Jason Bunce said he had only been the company's transport manager for two months. He decided to leave after Ryan Bennett missed an appointment with VOSA.

He added that had never received any money, and, as a result, never went to Southport. He had been in the office in Kent alongside Ryan Bennett. He had asked Ryan Bennett if he could look at the tachograph records but never saw one.

He had no involvement with the southern company Al-Le Logistics. When he resigned, Bunce was told that Ryan's uncle, Chris, was the new transport manager, but Chris Bennett denied this.


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