The traffic commissioner (TC) for the East of England has revoked the licence of a Grays-based international operator after finding it had serious compliance failings.
CRA Transport found itself at a Cambridge public inquiry (PI) after it applied to double its vehicle authorisation from five HGVs to 10 and also change its operating centre, prompting a DVSA investigation.
The subsequent reports from the vehicle and traffic examiner were not satisfactory, with significant areas of concern, including: incomplete inspection records; hardly any roller-brake performance tests; load security arrangements; and unsatisfactory explanations for the operator’s tyre management arrangements.
CRA Transport, whose directors are Cleider Andrade and Marislene Rogoschin, responded to the findings, providing assurances and an account of the action it had taken to resolve the issues.
However, in his written decision, TC Richard Turfitt said he’d taken a ‘dip sample’ of current maintenance records and found examples of defective tyres and oil leaks – and a lack of driver reports. There were also inspections with no brake checks.
TC Turfitt also pointed out that none of the company’s drivers appeared to be employees – and therefore subject to effective discipline. He said HMRC guidelines around this arrangement explained that this could be used as a way of reducing costs and gaining a competitive advantage over compliant operators.
Turfitt acknowledged that it was CRA’s first PI, but said that substantial matters remained to be addressed following the DVSA investigation.
“Assurances given around brake testing and in respect of basic compliance and record-keeping have yet to be realised,” he said.
“How likely is it that this operator will, in future, operate in compliance with the O-licensing regime?
“I could not reach a positive conclusion. Indeed, if compliance remains as I found it today, the operator will need to be removed from the industry permanently. I therefore determined that the licence be revoked.
“The operator indicated that it might seek a full audit, but that is for the director to explore.”
