Suspension until IRMIM training complete
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By Derre.i Hayes A NORTH EAST haulier has had its 0-licence suspended until all drivers have undertaken a Driver CPC training course.
John Thomas Foster, trading as JD Freight, had his 0-licence for four vehicles suspended by North East traffic commissioner Kevin Rooney for a catalogue of failings that came to light over the past year.
The suspension came into force on 30 November and will not be lifted until Foster can prove his drivers have completed seven hours of CPC training, covering driver walk-around checks.
Rooney took the tough stance after Foster failed to keep a promise to introduce a driver training programme by the end of October at a previous public inquiry held in June.
In making his ruling, Rooney said: "It was accepted that this undertaking had not been kept. No training has taken place. I was shown evidence of Driver CPC courses paid for and an 0-licence awareness course similarly paid for.
"I was shown evidence that the operator had engaged ongoing support on transport manager activities. I concluded, though, that this was an operator who needed significant encouragement to get things done on time," he added.
At a follow-up hearing on 16 November, Rooney said a maintenance audit report revealed an "average" level of compliance but noted improvements had been made since a Vosa examiner visited in January.
It had been established that JD had moved operating centre — it was registered at Whitehouse Enterprise Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne — without having applied for permission. This came to light after a Vosa officer visited the business at Bentall Business Park,Washington, and confirmed with site staff that it had been running out of there since January 2011.
The officer also found vehicle defects reported by drivers had not been marked as repaired, and the safety inspection record for a vehicle issued with an immediate prohibition notice showed the defect hadn't been fixed. In November 2011, Foster was convicted at Southampton Magistrates' Court of using an LGV without insurance. He was fined £525 and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points.
Rooney refused Foster's application to double his fleet to eight vehicles, but approved the change of operating centre.
CM was unable to contact Foster for a comment before going to press.