Tribunal backs TC's curtailment order
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A COMPANY with an 'abysmal' test record has lost its appeal against a decision to cut its licence from 18 vehicles and 25 trailers to 15 vehicles and 20 trailers for three months.
Gainsborough-based Smith's Distribution had appealed against the decision of the Eastern Traffic Commissioner Geoffrey Simms, which he made because of its poor maintenance record. MD Anthony Smith told the Transport Tribunal that the TC should have given the company more time to put its maintenance in order. The company had taken all the remedial action necessary The Tribunal said that while Smith relied upon the company's move to new premises, it noted that there had been three further prohibitions since the move. It followed that the move in itself was not going to
remedy the company's inherent problems. It was satisfied that the TC's approach had been entirely sensible and proportionate.
MUST TRY HARDER
While the Tribunal noted that the company had reacted to the prohibitions issued, it felt there was a weakness in the management of the business as there had been no sense of urgency in improving its maintenance systems.