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Jobs saved as Welsh haulier wins appeal against ban
Page 10
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MORE THAN 100 jobs have been saved as a result of Welsh haulier LE Jones successfully appealing a decision to ban its trucks from the road.
LE Jones Ltd and LE Jones International Ltd, which both operate from Ruthin, faced being put out of business following a decision by Deputy Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington in April to revoke their respective 0-licences after a public inquiry (CM 9 April).
But the Welsh operator appealed to the Transport Tribunal and was allowed to continue operating until the appeal was heard.
Now the Tribunal has upheld the appeal, and the company is allowed to operate 16 trucks and 48 trailers on the LE Jones Ltd 0-licence and four trucks and 12 trailers on the LE Jones International Ltd 0-licence.
This is a smaller licence than the firm previously had LE Jones Ltd held a standard national 0-licence for 40 vehicles and 105 trailers while LE Jones International Ltd held one for 30 vehicles and 50 trailers.
The 0-licences will stand as long as the firm continues to regularly monitor its tachograph records.
The case against LE Jones Ltd began in 2008, when 10 drivers were convicted of 85 offences, while 11 drivers employed by LE Jones International were convicted of 91 offences.
The offences included 37 of false records and four of taking insufficient daily rest, as well as others of failing to produce a tacho chart at the roadside and failing to make a record of the entirety of work undertaken.
DTC Dorrington revoked both licences, saying drivers' lives had been put at risk and that road safety had been compromised.
But the Transport Tribunal ruled that there was no evidence of intentional noncompliance and that, instead of being put out of business, LE Jones Ltd and LE Jones International Ltd should have their operations curtailed and monitored.
John Evans, a member of the transport team at the firm, says the decision is very welcome and that around 100 jobs have been saved when subcontractors are taken into account. He adds that LE Jones work consists of around 60% general cargo, 30% livestock and 10% refrigerated. The firm's big-name customers include Rio Tinto and Tesco.