A deputy traffic commissioner has revoked the licence of a Harrow-based operator and disqualified its director after finding ongoing and serious non-compliance.
DBM Haulage, which operated nine HGVs and four trailers, appeared before deputy TC John Baker after drivers’ hours offences were found being committed by its drivers.
One had removed his tachograph card and exceeded four and a half hours driving by an hour and 36 minutes.
Analysis of records by the DVSA also discovered company director and transport manager Dorin Bumb had exceeded four and a half hours driving by three hours and 40 minutes.
In his written decision, Baker said the case fell into the serious to severe category and he had struggled to find any positive factors.
“Mr Bumb was the main offender and the fact that his compliance record showed no improvement and in fact was worse between [the traffic examiner’s] initial investigation and the date of the public inquiry,” the DTC said.
“How likely is it that this operator will operate in compliance with the operator’s licensing regime? In other words, can the operator be trusted going forward? Despite the promises by Mr Bumb to ‘do better’ I am unable to answer this question positively.
“The failure to analyse records effectively, the ongoing failings in maintenance and the apparent inability on the part of Mr Bumb to manage his own driving hours lead me to the conclusion that I cannot trust Mr Bumb and therefore the operator to be compliant and that as a result the operator deserves to be put out of business.”
The operator licence was revoked and Baker said Bumb would be disqualified for a year:
“I limit the period to one year taking into account that this was the first public inquiry Mr Bumb has been called to,” he added.
“I also find that Mr Bumb no longer has repute as a transport manager. He has not demonstrated the required ability or attitude expected of a competent transport manager and has not set a good example in relation to his own compliance.
“Once repute of a transport manager is lost it is necessary to order a period of disqualification and I do so for a period of two years.”
