News

More than 100 jobs have been saved as a result of Welsh haulier LE Jones successfully appealing a decision to ban its trucks from the road.

LE Jones Ltd and LE Jones International Ltd, which operate from Ruthin, faced being put out of business following a decision by Deputy Traffic Commissioner Miles Dorrington in April  to revoke their respective operating licences after a public inquiry.

But the Welsh operator appealed to the Transport Tribunal and was allowed to continue operating until that appeal was heard.

Now the Tribunal has upheld its appeal and the firm is allowed to operate 16 trucks and 48 trailers on the LE Jones Ltd O-licence, and four trucks and 12 trailers on the LE Jones International Ltd O-licence, provided it continues to monitor its tachograph records regularly. This is a smaller authorisation that it previously held (40 vehicles and 105 trailers at LE Jones Ltd, and 30 vehicles and 50 trailers at LE Jones International Ltd).

The case against the firm began in 2008, when 10 LE Jones Ltd drivers were convicted of 85 offences, and 11 LE Jones International Ltd drivers were convicted of 91 offences.

These offences included 37 of false records  and four of taking insufficient daily rest, as well as others of failing to produce a tacho at the roadside and failing to make a record of the entirety of work undertaken.

Deputy TC Dorrington revoked the O-licences, saying that drivers' lives had been put at risk and road safety had been compromised.

But the Tribunal ruled that there was no evidence of intentional non-compliance and that, instead of being put out of business, Le Jones Ltd and LE Jones International Ltd should have their operations curtailed and monitored.

John Evans, a member of the transport team at the firm, says the decision is "extremely welcome" and adds that around 100 jobs have been saved when subcontractors are taken into account.

LE Jones' work consists of around 60% general cargo, 30% livestock and 10% refrigerated. The firm's big-name customers include Rio Tinto and Tesco.