Breaches of online service by Elstree haulier

A traffic commissioner has warned operators and transport managers they must never share their VOL self-service access login details, after hearing how a haulage firm violated the terms when it was sold.

TC Sarah Bell said there had been a gross breach of trust at MTC London Logistics as a result of “the lackadaisical and opaque approach” by its director as well as its former director and she revoked its licence with immediate effect.

A public inquiry heard how the company was sold by director Darius Motac to Ionut-Adrian Chiperi for £1,500 but there had been no notification made to the office of the TC about this material change.

Furthermore, it became apparent that Motac had shared his VOL login details with Chiperi.

Bell said Chiperi had never applied to be added to the VOL, had failed to engage with the OTC and did not attend the PI.

Motac did attend the hearing, but the TC described him as unimpressive, muddled and contradictory

Bell said she could not take his answers as truthful because it was impossible to get a straight answer out of him.

And she added that she believed the licence, which had an Elstree operating centre, was purchased for nefarious reasons.

“VOL self-service user access portal provides operators, transport managers, applicants and those who assist them with significant benefits in terms of timely communication and updating,” the TC said.

“However, such access must not be abused. The terms and conditions of VOL access make it clear that every user must apply for access in their own name, with their own user name and their own password.

“These must never be shared.

“TCs and the OTC access the change history to identify who is making what changes and when to ensure the licence is being managed properly,” she said.

“In this case MTC has misused access.”

Chiperi was disqualified indefinitely and transport manager Iulian Bujorean was found to have lost his repute and was disqualified for an indeterminate period.

However, Bell decided not to disqualify Motac as he had attended the PI: “Mr Motac has a high hurdle to meet if he is to persuade a TC that he is trustworthy, knowledgeable, understands director statutory duties and capable of exercising common sense in the ordinary meaning of the words in the future,” she added.