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TC suspects transport manager there in name only

30 April 2008

A bid for a new O-licence by Burton upon Trent-based Ziggy Norris International Haulage has been turned down by the North-Western Traffic Commissioner, Beverley Bell. She did not believe the company's directors were qualified to run a transport operation and suspected that the nominated transport manager had simply lent the use of his name. The company, which had changed its name to Camden Logistics, had sought a licence for six vehicles and 12 trailers. A previous licence held by Richard Norris,  trading as Ziggy Norris Haulage, had been revoked by the TC for various matters, including the falsification of tachograph charts.

For the company, Tim Culpin said that Richard Norris had asked Ewan MacDonald to organise his business in a better way. A limited company was formed with Richard Norris holding 51 shares and his wife Claire holding 49 shares. Richard Norris was to be the director and Claire Norris was to be the company secretary. However, it became clear Richard Norris's activities were causing Vosa concern, and a decision was made that he would "walk away". MacDonald now held 85% of the shares and Clare Norris 15%. MacDonald accepted he had no experience of running international haulage operations. He said he did not find Richard Norris' transport manager to be suitable and, therefore, he had hired David Hatfield. Hatfield would work 20 hours in the office as transport manager and also drive in the UK as and when required.

Claire Norris said that she did  not know or understand what a director's duties and responsibilities were, but she was willing to learn. Hatfield said that he was a full-time driver for Maritime Transport. He knew Ewan, although he did not know his surname. He would work a minimum of 20 hours per week at the operating centre on Fridays and Saturdays, and he would carry on driving for Maritime the rest of the time. Maritime was happy for him to be a driver and a transport manager for the company provided he was not working five days a week for the firm. The TC said that MacDonald had no proper experience of running commercial vehicles, having come from a background of money lending, debt collecting, property renovation, high-risk asset recovery, and holding interests in various licensed premises. She was satisfied MacDonald had simply found someone with a CPC and then nominated him on the licence. It was simply the use of a name.

The other director, Claire Norris, had no knowledge at all of the requirements of operator licensing or of international haulage and, furthermore, had no knowledge of her responsibilities as a director. She was not satisfied that the company had proper arrangements in place for ensuring compliance as a result of lack of experience and knowledge and the wholly unsatisfactory arrangements with regard to the transport manager.


Mike Jewell
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