REPUTE
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TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
Mi The Road Haulage Association's fight to stop former John Dee boss John Davison bouncing back into the transport business is a first. The John Dee Group collapsed earlier this year owing hauliers many thousands of pounds. Never before has the RHA used its rights to oppose licence applications in several traffic areas. In this case the North-East, North-West, East, West and West Midlands.
But why have the RHA and the Freight Transport Association been so slow to object to applications on the grounds of good repute? Trade associations, local councils, the police and the transport tions have the power to Oppose a licence application. And when running unlicensed trucks for hire and reward. In this case the information was passed on to the police. However, the association says that it does not have the funds to carry out such surveillance regularly and accepts that most tip-offs consist of "opinions and hearsay".
This annoys the Licensing Authorities who feel they are having to struggle even harder to rid the industry of cowboy operators and yet are criticised for failing to do so. In the latest LA's report, North Eastern LA Frederick Whalley said it was "disappointing" that neither the RHA nor the FTA "has seen fit to exercise its legal right to object to licence applications from operators who are clearly unable to meet the statutory requirements".