Operator Granted Interim Licence in Terms Applied for Despite Maintenance Failings.

This operator, represented by barrister Harry Bowyer, was called into Public Inquiry for the second time in three years. He had two licences in two separate traffic  areas and wanted to consolidate them into one licence by operating from one operating centre in one traffic area. A desk based assessment found a number of regulatory failings (not helped by the director’s appalling IT skills which gave the appearance of more missing documents than were actually missing!).

When the Operator was called into Public Inquiry he contacted a transport consultant who contacted SBC.

As a result of the improved systems and documentation the Traffic Commissioner allowed an interim licence in the terms applied for to be granted in full following a satisfactory audit.

Moral: One of the more common ways to get yourself called in to a Public Inquiry is to make a variation application which triggers a DVSA visit or desk based assessment. Before bringing yourself to the attention of the Traffic Commissioner get your business audited to see if it is compliant. Better to spend a few hundred on an audit now rather than thousands later on a Public Inquiry!