A fruit and vegetable supplier suspected of tachograph offences has had its licence revoked indefinitely after failing to show up at a public inquiry. Prestatyn-based Michael Watts and Richard Thomas, trading as Grapevine, had been called before Welsh Deputy Traffic Commissioner Simon Evans.
Traffic examiner Sarah O'Brien said that a tachograph investigation commenced after the driver of an overloaded vehicle was found with a large number of charts. Analysis of 56 tachograph records revealed 1,287 missing kilometres and the tachograph clock was out by 12 hours. There was no procedure for the collection, storage and analysis of tachograph records.
The partnership had changed to a limited company in February 2008 without the Traffic Area Office being notified. O'Brien was told they did not realise they must notify the change. Use was being made of an unauthorised operating centre at Kinmel Bay. In June 2008, a vehicle not specified on the licence was used while the 
specified vehicle was off the road.
O'Brien added that a vehicle examiner had made several unsuccessful attempts to arrange a maintenance investigation. The DTC said he was satisfied the firm was aware of the date of the public inquiry. The entity of the operator had changed, which was a material change.
The DTC's wake-up call
The DTC was disappointed that the firm ignored the regulatory process, and he suspended the licence to encourage them to participate.