No-show operator banned
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• The Operator's Licence of Erith-based haulier Solartech 2000 has been revoked and its sole director, Erich Skupin, has been banned indefinitely from holding a licence. The order was made by South Eastern and Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner Brigadier Turner at an Eastbourne public inquiry after Skupin Failed to turn up.
A Vehicle Inspectorate investigation of the company of Slade Green Road, Erith, in Kent found that between September and November 1995, 10 Solartech drivers had committed 72 drivers' hours tachograph and weekly/daily rest period offences. Tachograph charts and drivers' records also showed there were nearly 114 occasions totalling 35,000km or missing mileage on the company's eight vehicles. One driver had been on duty for 39 hours with 22 hours' driving, and another had been driving for almost 10/2 hours without a break. Solartech had previously been given a warning over maintenance—Turner said the latest offences were a serious breach of the statement of intent on Skupin's licence.
"Skupin's drivers have broken the rules in a substantial way and the firm has deliberately broken the law," he added. "It is a matter that hits at the very heart of the licence system."