Licence revoked after boss was 'off the ball'
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By Roger Brown
TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER (TC) for Scotland Joan Aitken has revoked the 0-licence of North Lanarkshire-based beer delivery firm Duncan McKee Haulage after it picked up several prohibitions for serious mechanical defects and failed to satisfy financial standing requirements.
In a written decision following a public inquiry in Edinburgh in November, Aitken also disqualified Duncan McKee, owner of the business authorised for 10 vehicles and 15 trailers, from having a licence for one year.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) — formerly Vosa and the DSA — examiners reported that 31 prohibitions had been issued to vehicles with defects since McKee's last appearance at a public inquiry in December 2008.
In one instance, a truck was found with a bald tyre, while a trailer was also found to have brake pad and brake disc defects.
Furthermore, lorries had failed annual tests and drivers had not taken the correct rests or kept the required records.
A vehicle was also stopped with an expired tax disc and a driver employed by McKee did not have a valid licence to drive HGVs.
McKee told the TC he believed the bald tyre was the result of the theft of a good tyre from the vehicle, and that many of the prohibitions were down to wear and tear.
However, TC Aitken said: "McKee is a poor operator; he is off the ball. Those who strive to do it properly should not lose out to competitors such as Mr McKee, who has operated at less than the bare minimum."
Aitken also disqualified McKee's wife Mary McKee for 12 months, in her role as transport manager, saying she had attempted to mislead the DVSA traffic examiner during his investigations.