Flagged-out Brits lose Dutch 0-licences
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More than 30 British hauliers who used flagging out agency DH Platt International have had their Operator's Licences withdrawn by the Dutch authorities. But Platt's sister company SOS Euroflag, which has taken over the service, says it expects to overcome the problem and has put in new licence applications to MO, the Dutch licensing authority.
Following a meeting between the Dutch authorities and UK Department of Transport officials in the Hague, 52 out of 33 of Platt's licences were withdrawn. A NIWO official says DH Platt had been in breach of regulations by "lending" its community authorisations (the 0-licence equivalent) to British-based firms while operating only one truck from its Dutch base.
It has also emerged that two of the hauliers registered through Platts had previously had their ON 0-licences revoked. SOS Euroflag partner Steve McFarlane says there was no way of checking this at the time, and SOS Euroflag will net be applying for new licences for them.
McFarlane expects SOS Euroflag's application for 60 new licences to be granted following meetings this month with HIM staff.
NIWO says it will make its decision on 22 March, but warns that SOS will have to prove it is the transport operator for each licence. Otherwise, it says, each company has to apply for its own "mother licence", which requires proof that the company is running its transport from premises in Holland with a CPC holder on site for at least 20 hours a week.
The matter may become clearer after this weeks' meeting between Dutch civil servants and UK Department of Transport officials.