Operator Without a Transport Manager for 6 Months Successful in Application for Increase at Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry

This Operator, represented by Helen Newbold, was called in to a Public Inquiry after submitting a variation to increase their standard national licence from 4 – 8 vehicles.

On assessing the application, the OTC found that the operator had been operating for a period of 6 months without a transport manager or requesting a period of grace.

Further in a desk-based assessment by the DVSA the vehicle examiners assessment was scored as unsatisfactory identifying issues with PMI intervals, defect heavy DDI’s and a failure to investigate missing mileage reports.

Helen Newbold was able to take the operator through his evidence and, via video link, that of  the proposed transport manager, sufficiently to persuade the Traffic Commissioner to hold a decision in abeyance until an improvement in compliance could be demonstrated.  At which point the increase to 8 vehicles would be approved as a stepped increase over 2021 without the requirement for further application for a variation.