0-licence revoked over 'ghost' transport manager
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o ge r.brown far THE WEST MIDLANDS Traffic Commissioner (TC) has revoked the 0-licence of sole trader Roger Bissell after it was discovered that the nominated transport manager never attended the yard to carry out his duties.
In a written decision following an October public inquiry Nick Jones revoked Moreton-In-Mars, Gloucs-based Bissell's 0-licence from 1 December. disqualified him for six months, ruled that he had lost his repute as a director and no longer satisfied the requirement of professional competence.
Bissell had previously been sole director and transport manager at Quantum I laulage.
Following a June 2008 public inquiry into maintenance failings at the firm, the TC held he had lost his repute as a transport manager.
Bissell then obtained a new 0-licence as a sole trader for two vehicles and four trailers, and nominated Paul Kennedy as the transport manager.
However last month's inquiry heard evidence that Kennedy had never attended the company's offices to carry out work and there was no CPC holder undertaking the role of transport manager.
Bissell was, in practice, undertaking the role, despite having lost his repute in this area. The TC said: "Operator licensing is based on trust and misleading me over the existence of a transport manager is such that I regard it as inevitable that he loses his repute."
Jones held that Kennedy had also lost his repute as a transport manager. The October inquiry was also told that a vehicle examiner from VOSATs Kidderminster office had attempted to conduct a maintenance investigation at Bissell's operating centre but was thwarted by security staff, who would not admit him to the premises.
Jones added: "Any TC will expect operators to co-operate with VOSA and other enforcement agencies when going about their work.
"In this particular case the operator went about matters in a wholly inappropriate manner."
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