Numerous convictions
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• A series of prohibition notices and convictions has led to a 25% cut in the licence authorisation of Morley-based Keadle Transport (Yorks).
North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Anthony Richardson had been considering revoking the company's licence and disqualifying its directors because of the number of convictions for overloading and vehicle excise offences, prohibition notices concerning overloading, mitigating penalties paid for VED, prohibitions relating to maintenance, the number of warning letters issued and convictions that had not been reported. (CM 26 Aug-1 Sept).
For the company, Stephen Kirkbright said that a new inspection pit had been installed in the past month. A new daily driver defect reporting system had been put in place, which would hopefully plug the gap of drivers not checking the vehicles daily. Managing director David Hidle said the drivers were now aware of the importance of daily defect reporting and the avoidance of over loading. Though proceedings were being taken against five drivers for hours' offences, none was being taken against the company. Tacho charts were checked against the drivers' time sheets. Any offences were noted and pointed out to the driver.
Kirkbright argued that the company's record had to be seen against the background of the size of the operation and the steps taken to put the situation right. Keadle was authorised for 20 vehicles and 20 vehicles were being operated.
With two exceptions, all the VED matters related to one month's duty It was not a case of untaxed vehicles being constantly used month in month out. After hearing financial evidence in private, Richardson said that he had come near to revoking the licence. There had been so many infringements that it would be wrong if he took no action at all. The company had to show that it could operate properly with a reduced number of vehicles before having its full licence back.
Curtailing the licence by five vehicles, Richardson said that Keadle could apply for an increase when the licence came up for renewal in December.