A Walsall skip operator had its licence suspended for almost a month after an insecure load sparked a third public inquiry appearance.
Mohammed Akhtar, trading as Euro Skip Hire, appeared before TC Miles Dorrington after the roadside encounter with DVSA officers.
His lorry was not sheeted and was loaded too high above the sides of the skip, posing a risk to pedestrians and other road users.
A maintenance investigation followed which found nine areas of concern, including no written VOR system, PMI inspection intervals that had increased to 56 days, a first time
MOT fail rate of 40% and a driver defect reporting system below what the DVSA regarded as acceptable.
The TC said the crux of the case appeared to be identical to that found by TC Nick Denton at the last PI Euro Skip Hire appeared at: Akhtar did not have what it took to be a compliant operator without close, expert supervision.
However, Dorrington said there were many positives, including evidence of sufficient and effective changes made in the business including the retention of a transport manager CPC holder.
“In my determination the correct, fair and proportionate regulatory action is to suspend this operator’s licence for 28 consecutive days,” the TC said.
But he also warned: “It should go without saying that this is the very last chance that I will give to Mr Akhtar to be compliant and to remain compliant.
“I chose my words carefully when I say that because those words mean exactly what they say.”
