News

A traffic examiner's report that makes serious allegations about an international haulier has led to an inquiry being adjourned twice so that the operator can prepare answers. The operator John Cowie, who holds a licence for five vehicles and two trailers, had been called before the North Western Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell. Cowie had sought to increase the authorisation to 10 vehicles and two trailers and to move to a new operating centre in Burnley.

The case was adjourned in late  January for further Vosa investigations after Cowie had admitted that he did not know where his vehicles and drivers were whilst he was on holiday and after he claimed that a vehicle he had been driving in December belonged to R J International, for whom he worked as a sub-contractor. When the hearing resumed the application for additional vehicles was withdrawn. Seeking a further adjournment, Mark Davies, for Cowie, said that significant allegations had been made in the traffic examiner's report and there had been insufficient time to deal with those allegations.

A vehicle that was used between Christmas and New Year was owned by Cowie but specified on a licence held by Jack Duckworth and that vehicle had been in Duckworth's possession since August. It was suggested the vehicle was being used by Cowie in excess of his licence authorisation and he needed to speak to Duckworth about that situation. It was also alleged that the TC had been misled and that needed to be investigated.  It was now accepted that Cowie had not been driving a R J International vehicle in December and that was also a matter that required explanation.

Traffic examiner Brian Newton said that he needed to interview Cowie about apparent drivers' hours breaches shown on the tachograph records. After Newton had said that the drivers did not speak particularly good English, the TC said that one of the things he needed to speak to Cowie about was whether the drivers understood the legislation. The hearing was adjourned until 23 June. As Cowie and his solicitor had only had a few days to digest the traffic examiner's report, the TC considered it fair that they be given sufficient time to prepare their case.