Salvage firm push for 0-licence succeeds
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Two brothers have seven undisclosed convictions, but DTC still agrees to a conditional 0-licence.
TWO OPERATORS have proved successful in winning a restricted 0-licence for two vehicles.
However, the granting of the licence came with a formal warning that must remain on their files for five years.
Brothers Akhtar and 'ghat Hussain. trading as MR Recovery Salvage, appeared before West Midlands Deputy Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington. It was revealed that they I had seven convictions, including two for operating without an 0-licence.
None were disclosed on the application form, but the applicants said this was a "misunderstanding': The partners had orginally applied for a restricted 0-licence for three vehicles. The DTC agreed to award an 0-licence for two with various undertakings.
Traffic examiner Robert Beaver had stopped one of MRs vehicles last February and found it was operating without an 0-licence.
In July. he stopped the same vehicle, an 18-tonne truck. and it still had no 0-licence. The driver, Akhtar Hussain, said he believed it was covered under the 0-licence held by Iqbal Hussain, despite the fact that the licence had been discontinued in January 2009.
Since that time, the applicant had only used a 7.5-tonne truck, which did not require an 0-licence because the nature of the work it carries out is exempt.
The DTC commended the applicants' "open and honest willingness to answer questions and admit their failings': and he issued a warning to each that must stay on their files until February 2015.
Dorrington sought agreement on three undertakings: by the end of May:, Akhtar Hussain must have completed a drivers' hours and tacho course and an 0-licence compliance course; and by the end of May, iqbal Hussain must have completed an 0-licence compliance course. Proof of completion must be delivered to the TC's office by 14 June.
A final undertaking insists that any application for a major change to the 0-licence must be accompanied by evidence that a compliant fleet has operated for at least four months before the application.