Archive: Public Inquiries
Licence Granted at Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry Despite Previous Revocation.
Laura Newton, transport solicitor, represented an Operator at Public Inquiry relating to a new application for a Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence. The Operator had previously held an Operator’s licence where there was a failure to notify changes in management and ultimately a revocation for a number of breaches of undertakings. […]
Financial Standing Problems Lead to Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry
A horrible falling out between two directors led to a situation where one of the directors left the company but refused to give up his directorship. The remaining director did not dare correct a financial standing shortfall as he feared that the money would be immediately withdrawn as both directors […]
Restricted Licence Allowed to Continue after Public Inquiry Despite Regulatory Failings
The Operator in this case, represented at Public Inquiry by barrister Harry Bowyer, had a disastrous TEOR where it was discovered that he had not been keeping to the scheduled maintenance inspection period, had not been analysing his drivers’ hours, had MOT failures (and a prohibition issued at the DVSA […]
Red Light Fails to Stop Coach Driver’s Career.
Martin Smith, specialist road transport lawyer, attended a driver conduct hearing before a Traffic Commissioner in order to represent a bus driver who had driven a coach through a red traffic light and had crashed into a central reservation. A number of passengers had been on board and the driver […]
Operator Keeps Licence Despite Alleged International Licence Lending
This operator, represented by Barrister Helen Newbold, was called in front of the Traffic Commissioner after his vehicles were observed on the internet advertising another company’s international car transporting business. The Traffic Commissioner was concerned that the operator’s licence was being lent. Helen took the operator through the details of […]
Operator with Restricted Licence Survives Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry
The Operator in this matter, represented at Public Inquiry by Harry Bowyer, approached SBC after an unsatisfactory Vehicle Examiner’s visit. The report that followed identified issues with record keeping, use of an unauthorised operating centre, unsatisfactory driver defect reporting, irregular maintenance inspections and failure to report significant changes to the […]
Haulage Company, Dating back to the mid 19th Century, Keeps Licence at Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry
This family business that started in the age of the horse and cart, represented at Public Inquiry by Harry Bowyer, allowed their compliance to slip and failed to tell the Office of the Traffic Commissioner of material changes to their licence. They contacted SBC who put them in touch with […]
Transport Manager Woes Lead to Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry
The Operator in this matter was worried about his Transport Manager’s ability. He, very sensibly, commissioned an audit which showed that the Transport Manager, who was operating under Grandfather rights, was far from competent. The replacement turned out to be not much better and was sacked. During this unhappy period […]
Licence Retained After “Compliance Fell off a Cliff.”
This Operator was called into his second Public Inquiry in 5 years. He was represented by Harry Bowyer at both Public Inquiries. After surviving the first Public inquiry the Operator, who had a restricted licence, was under the care of a first rate transport consultant who oversaw the transport team […]
Both Licences Saved After Two Companies Operate for a Year without a Transport Manager After Death of Transport Manager
In this case two brothers, each of whom had an operator’s licence and each represented by Harry Bowyer, continued to operate after their father, who was also their transport manager, died. Neither notified the Office of the Traffic Commissioner of the death of the Transport Manager and neither applied for […]
