Traffic Commissioner says operator gained an unfair competitive advantage when no transport manager was employed. As industry regulators, the traffic commissioners promote safe, fair, efficient and reliable passenger and goods transport. Taking proportionate regulatory action against non-compliant operators in public inquiries ensures only those fit to hold a licence can… Read more »
Lorry drivers sentenced to 18 months jail for Tabacco smuggling
Two lorry drivers, who tried to smuggle more than 1.5 million cigarettes into the UK hidden between bags of wood pellets, have been jailed after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Marin Vasilev, 40, of Willingham, Cambridge, was caught attempting to bring in cigarettes worth £444,641 in unpaid… Read more »
TC turns down licence bid from haulier who used names of legitimate operators to get work
Joan Aitken criticises applicant who produced false documents to suggest he had a valid licence. Traffic commissioners take their role as gatekeepers to the haulage, bus and coach industries very seriously. They know that compliant operators like you expect unscrupulous practices to be dealt with – because they can affect your… Read more »
Second jail term for heavy haulage business owner after failing to pay back £75K
A Birmingham fraudster has been jailed for a second stretch of 20 months for failing to pay back the £75,000 owing from a two-year tax fraud. Craig McDougall was originally sentenced to four years in prison for evading tax by lying about the takings from his haulage business, after an… Read more »
Licence revocation for operator who underestimated the importance of undertakings
Traffic Commissioner says regulatory action inevitable for non-compliant operator. A recent public inquiry saw an operator have its licence taken away for not putting enough importance on the undertakings it agreed to when applying for the operator’s licence. The operator had vehicles stopped on three separate occasions – each time they… Read more »
Director’s professional driving licence revoked for driving dangerously and falsifying tachograph records
Traffic Commissioner takes action after “serious, reckless error of judgement” The director of a haulage firm has had his professional driving licence revoked after being told he should never have got behind the wheel of his vehicle. West of England Traffic Commissioner, Kevin Rooney, said the director made a “serious,… Read more »
Banned operator handed further 10 year disqualification
Traffic Commissioner says limited company was set up with the sole purpose of hiding operator’s true role. What happens when a bad operator is banned from running vehicles? It means they can’t apply for or get another licence. In fact, it’s a criminal offence to do so. A small minority of… Read more »
Two year ban for transport manager who fundamentally misunderstood his responsibilities
If your advice about the safety of vehicles or drivers is being ignored, what should you do? If you know there’s a conflict between winning customers and being compliant, how should you respond? At a recent public inquiry, North West Traffic Commissioner Simon Evans said it’s “scarcely possible” for any transport… Read more »
Transport manager could have prevented serious failings
CPC holder stepped down but Traffic Commissioner says that decision, like his other actions, was too late. Promoting culture of compliance across a business can be challenging. Your commitment to safe vehicle and driver operations relies on every individual making the right decisions, maintaining the daily discipline of checks and procedures…. Read more »
Manipulation: working together to cut it out
Traffic Commissioner points to “dark cloud of suspicion” over hauliers who obstruct DVSA’s efforts to identify those involved in fitting interrupter devices. Tachograph equipment has one purpose. To secure road safety. Anyone involved in manipulating these devices is making a deliberate attack on the wellbeing of others. Cheating the rules also… Read more »
