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Caveman Consultants, which trades as The Logistix Group, has been granted interim licences for two new operating centres at an adjourned public inquiry, despite an admission of the illegal use of one depot.

The inquiry heard that the company had been parking four vehicles at a site in Skelmersdale, Lancs, although it did not hold an O-licence in the North Western Traf-fic area. And it had already been refused interim authority  to use the site.

Under questioning from TC Beverley Bell, Mansoor Hussain, the firm's director, admitted that it had illegally used the site as two of its big contracts were in the North-West, leaving it unable to get vehicles back to its Stockton-on-Tees base within the regulations.

Bell asked: "Was there any point my refusing the interim licence if you go ahead and operate them illegally anyway?"

Bell also pointed out that a number of maintenance reports had been changed - apparently to disguise the fact that the forms had the name "F1" written on them.

Hussain blamed this on mistakes made by his maintenance contractor - First Choice Commercials - which he said had incorrectly filled in the forms.

F1 or F1 Financial Services is run by Alex Rawlings, to whom Caveman has links through providing factoring services to two of Rawlings' failed businesses. Caveman also purchased the trade and assets of another of Rawlings' firms - Eric Short Haulage  - when that went bust earlier this year (Motor Transport 2 July).

Hussain described Rawlings as a "close personal friend".

He promised that he was striving to be a fully compliant operator.

He added: "I will go out of my way to make sure this business is in the right place at the right time."

Adjourning the inquiry, Bell granted the interim licence in the North-West, adding: "It legitimises the unauthorised parking but it does not mean I am condoning anything that has gone on in the past. It does not let [Caveman] off the hook."

She also granted the interim application to move its North-East operating centre to Newcastle.

A full maintenance investigation was also ordered.