News

An operator who admitted that "silly mistakes" led to a previous two-year disqualification for hours offences has been granted a fresh licence. Stoke-on-Trent-based Daniel Poole, trading as Danny W Poole, had sought a new international licence for three vehicles and three trailers before West Midland Deputy Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington.

In 2005 the then TC David Dixon held that Poole had lost his repute and disqualified him from holding an O-licence for two years, because of drivers'  hours and tachograph offences and a failure to co-operate with Vosa. That decision was upheld by the Transport Tribunal on appeal. The DTC said he was happy to accept a Spanish bank account in relation to financial standing.

Poole said that one of the mistakes he had made in the past was not to ask the traffic examiner for advice. He was going on a refresher course as things had changed since losing his previous licence. He was also willing to go on an NVQ2 course for drivers. The drivers would be given written Contracts of Employment and would receive regular training from an outside agency. The tachograph records would be sent for outside analysis. Vehicle maintenance would be contracted out.

He was committed to ensuring that there was not a breakdown in communication with Vosa again. Since 2005, he had realised that training was a number one priority for both himself and his drivers. He was committed to not making the silly mistakes he had made last time. He estimated  that 50% of his work would be international work. Poole gave undertakings that drivers would be given written contracts and receive training before driving in regard to the analysis of tachograph records and that he would join a trade association.

The DTC concluded that repute had been restored, but wanted undertakings from Poole because he had been out of touch with haulage while changes in legislation had taken place.