Door Left Open for Scaffolder at Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry

Murray Oliver represented a scaffolding operator whose Operators licence had ended because the operator had not completed the renewal forms on time. The applicants orginal systems had let them down by failing to identify the renewal date for the Operator’s licence. After a thorough review of the systems the applicant was able to satisfy the Deputy Traffic Commissioner that the systems that were in place would have been capable of being effective. However where there is a gap between operator licences there will always be a suspicion of unauthorised use  and the applicant was unable to convince the Traffic Commissioner that this had not happened and the O licence was refused at Public Inquiry.

Tachograph records to the VOR status of a vehicle would have been helpful to prove the applicant was fit. The door was left open for a fresh application to be made for a new O licence.