Operator Called in after Desk Based Assessment Keeps Licence At Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry

This operator, represented at Public inquiry by Barrister Harry Bowyer, was called into Public Inquiry after an unsatisfactory DVSA Desk Based Assessment (DBA). The DBA followed on the heels of the previous transport manager resigning. Whilst maintenance was largely being done the paperwork was in a disastrous state. Drivers’ hours were not being properly analysed which resulted in a cavalier attitude to the insertion of drivers’ cards by the drivers. (There was no reason for them to pull their cards as the nature of the work meant that none of the drivers approached any drivers’ hours limits.)

SBC put a transport consultant into the operation to help with fixing the systems that they had and setting up those that they didn’t. The improvements were such that the Traffic Commissioner was able to deal with the case by way of a formal warning and the acceptance of a number of undertakings.