Licence lost for serious compliance failings

Chris Tindall
April 1, 2024

An operator in Essex that was previously warned by the DVSA and a deputy traffic commissioner that its compliance record was unsatisfactory has now had its licence revoked.

Deputy TC Nicholas Denton said the conduct of Cruisers Logistics fell into the severe to serious category and it needed time out of the industry to take stock.

The haulier, which traded out of two operating centres in Grays and Chadwell St Mary, appeared before the DTC after a preliminary hearing last November found “significant and continuing non-compliance issues”.

The hearing had itself been called following an unsatisfactory maintenance assessment by the DVSA.

Having heard evidence at a Cambridge public inquiry, Denton said Cruisers Logistics’ vehicles had not been presented at the 10-week inspection interval promised by the operator and the DVSA had found extended intervals of up to three months.

The company’s brake testing regime was inadequate and one truck was not given any brake test in a 14-month period.

The deputy TC said drivers were not carrying out effective walk-round checks, there were large amounts of missing mileage and numerous and repeated drivers’ hours infringements.

Infringement reports that were issued to drivers had unconvincing signatures and Denton said the purported dates of the signatures were “clearly false”.

He noted that a new transport manager had now been nominated, but he was only 20 years old, inexperienced and had not attended the PI.

Conducting a balancing exercise, the deputy TC acknowledged roller brake tests were now being conducted, although vehicles were not sufficiently laden, the operator had reduced the inspection interval down to six weeks and director Evaldas Siurkus had now attended an operator licence management training course, “although that did not seem to have inspired the necessary level of improvement.”

Denton said: “There have been some improvements but not nearly enough.

“Drivers’ hours oversight is woeful, driver defect reporting is dysfunctional, the brake testing regime is still inadequate.

“The director has failed to demonstrate that he can be relied on to comply. I consider that the company needs a period of time out of the industry in which to take stock and assess whether it wishes to re-enter it and, if it does so, acquire the requisite knowledge and establish the required compliance systems before making any future application.”

He made no disqualification order.

About the Author

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Chris Tindall

Chris Tindall started writing for the haulage and logistics industry in 2002 and has covered a broad range of significant issues, including GPS jamming by criminals, platooning and Brexit.

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