The three-vehicle licence held by Leeds-based McHugh Earthworks was revoked by North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Mark Hinchliffe after the company failed to appear at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry for a second time.
The company had been called before the DTC because of concern over its vehicle maintenance and a conviction for using more vehicles than was covered by its licence. The DTC adjourned the hearing in July to give the company a further opportunity of attending.
In
a statement, vehicle examiner Stephen White said he carried out an unannounced maintenance investigation following allegations that the company had changed its maintenance contractor. He inspected the one vehicle operated and issued it with a defect notice. Two additional maintenance contractors were being used. At a previous public inquiry in February 2007, the company had undertaken to have its vehicles inspected every four weeks.
The inspection records showed that the stated inspection period had been exceeded on three occasions, once by up to eight weeks and two days. Director Anthony McHugh had said that he classed the annual test as an inspection. Most of the inspection records failed to show rectification work as requested by the Traffic Commissioner.
The company had also undertaken to have an audit by a contractor of at least one vehicle every three months, but there was only one record of a satisfactory audit inspection. Since June 2004, three immediate and
five delayed prohibitions had been issued to the company's vehicles.
In the absence of the company the DTC was unable to be satisfied about its future arrangements to comply with the law.
Reed Business Information Limited.©2009
