News

Walsall-based DC Haulage & Storage has lost its second bid for an O-licence. Its initial application for a six-vehicle/two-trailer licence was refused by the then West Midland Traffic Commissioner David Dixon because of fraudulent bank statements and persistent illegal operation. That decision was upheld by the Transport Tribunal. When a fresh application came before current TC Nick Jones he was told that five days after the previous public inquiry a vehicle belonging to the company  had been impounded.

Automatic numberplate recognition equipment showed that four vehicles had been sighted on 19, 53, 57 and 70 occasions between 1 January and 14 August. In September a vehicle which was not displaying an O-licence disc was stopped in a roadside check its registered keeper was DC Haulage & Storage. The TC said there was very little to support the assertions from the company that it was acting lawfully. However the evidence of unlawful operation was strong.

An important point was the clear indication from his predecessor and the Transport Tribunal that the company should be granted a new licence if it could demonstrate compliance with the law. He was satisfied that the reason for the company's inability to produce evidence of subcontracting arose from the fact that much of the haulage was not subcontracted instead it was carried out by DC Haulage and Storage. The TC concluded that the company had continued to operate without an O-licence.

POOR HISTORY

With a history of unlawful operation, previous attempts to mislead his predecessor by producing forged bank statements and operating without a licence, the TC had no hesitation in finding that the company had not regained its repute.