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Tour and order

30th October 2008
Page 10
Page 10, 30th October 2008 — Tour and order
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The CM/ATS Euromaster legal seminar rolled into Wales and the North-East. Here are the highlights.

By Brian Weatherley THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR/ ATS Euromaster nationwide legal seminar rolled into Wales last week, where a strong turnout of operators heard Welsh Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones spell out exactly what his approach to 0-licensing is — and just how he exercises his powers.

With more operators opting to contract out maintenance, Jones warned the audience: "You must be able to audit your third-party contractors to be sure they're doing what they're meant to do. Otherwise, how do you know your maintenance provider is doing it right if all you ever see is a pass certificate for an annual test?"

Obtaining written performance guarantees is vital to the success of any maintenance agreement, insisted Jones, who reminded operators the buck still stopped with the 0-licence holder.

Leading transport lawyer James Backhouse told attendees that since the changing pattern of business meant the role of the transport manager was expanding. "you need to go back to your firms and look at if your transport manager can do all you expect them to do in the time they have to do it". That point had delegates nodding vigorously in agreement.

Backhouse covered the Driver CPC through to implementing the final phase of statutory holiday increases from next April, whereby workers will be entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday, with a cap of 28 days per year.

He also took time to remind the audience of the roadside deposit scheme, which covers offences committed by foreign drivers unable to provide a UK address.

Wrapping up, Barry Ricks, Vosa's head of customer guidance and education,reminded operators of the advisory role offered by the agency. But the most welcome news was confirmation of the consultation on headlamp aim, and moves by Vosa to stop it being the main reason for annual test failure (see Analysis on p16).

• Contact Vosa's operator centre on WOO 123 WO.

• The final Commercial Motor/ ATS Euromaster legal seminar will be staged at The Royal Cambridge Hotel in Cambridge, with Eastern TC Richard Twfitt and South-Eastern TC Philip Brown on 13 November To attend the seminar, call 020 8399 1184 or e-mail commerciaLmotorQ garnett-keelercom