Bad management ends in curtailment
Page 17
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NORTH EAST deputy traffic commissioner (TC) Elizabeth Perrett, has curtailed the 0-licence of a coal haulage specialist by three vehicles and three trailers indefinitely after she concluded that its director had "no real insight" into his responsibilities as an operator.
At a September public inquiry in Leeds, the deputy TC was told how vehicles and trailers operated by Blyth-based A Johnston and Sons picked up 17 prohibitions between May 2012 and April 2013.
Some of the defects related to brakes, suspension and tyres, and in one instance a wheel failure was imminent. During the inquiry, the deputy TC heard evidence from a Vosa examiner, who carried out an
investigation into the business in December 2012.
Vehicles had gone past their due dates for safety inspections and the company's MoT record was poor.
Deputy TC Perrett told sole director Richard Dods that his business — previously authorised to run 10 vehicles as well as 10 trailers — needed a "root and branch" review.
The TC also recorded a formal warning on the company's licence and said its good repute had been severely tarnished as a result.
Summing up
The deputy TC said a review of the curtailment would take place when she received an independent audit report into the business.