Administration at fault
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• Newport haulier Richard Draper has admitted that his sloppy administration of his business was to blame for maintenance problems and unauthorised operation of vehicles. As a result, South Wales Deputy Traffic Commissioner Lyndon Davies renewed Draper's licence for eight vehicles and 11 trailers for one year only.
Draper, who trades as Richard A Draper Transport, appeared at his second Cardiff disciplinary inquiry in just over a year.
For Draper, Paul Carless said that since a previous public inquiry in June of last year, Draper hoped someone would buy the business. However, "they messed him around" and Draper "let things drift and become sloppy". Carless claimed that the situation had dramatically improved since Draper had taken on transport manager Richard Boycott.
Draper said that he had been in the haulage industry for 20 years, eight on his own account. Last June he worked closely with a Swansea-based company which wanted to buy his business—but partners of the Swansea firm did not hold an Operator's Licence. Draper admitted that operations had been carried on without authority during that period.
He also took full responsibility for a prohibition notice for four defects, including braking and steering faults.