Transport manager disqualified for “disgraceful conduct”

A transport manager who failed to notice that one of his drivers did not have the right category of licence to drive a 44-tonne vehicle has been disqualified indefinitely.

Following a public inquiry in the West Midlands Traffic Area, TC Nick Denton said Andrew Astley’s conduct had been disgraceful and he lacked good repute. Astley was the nominated transport manager on Arlington Haulage’s licence. An artic belonging to the firm had been stopped by the DVSA in July last year and it was found that the driver – Neil Allman – lacked the necessary driving entitlement.

Allman had traded as Arlington Haulage a decade ago but this licence was revoked after it racked up a number of prohibitions and failed to observe drivers’ hours rules. His mother, Marian Allman, was now the sole director on a different licence in the name of Arlington Haulage, but following an investigation it became apparent Neil was the controlling mind of the business.

No-one from the company appeared at the PI, but in their absence the TC said it was clear that Astley had little or no day to day involvement in the operator and his failure to spot that Allman should not have been driving an artic was “a fundamental dereliction of duty”. He said: “From the papers it appears highly likely that Mr Astley has been a transport manager in name only, providing a cloak under which Neil Allman, disqualified as a transport manager, continued to run matters.”

The haulier’s licence was revoked.