A haulier who had previously only just avoided the loss of his O-licence has been stripped of the licences issued to both of his businesses.
Following a public inquiry (PI) on ?30 September, West Midlands traffic commissioner (TC) Nick Jones found that George Talbot, Alsager Contractors director, was a “difficult, controlling figure” who struggled in any personal or management relationship.
Alsager Contractors had attended a PI in 2009, which resulted in curtailment and nine undertakings added to its O-licence. Another PI in 2013 resulted in further curtailment and undertakings.
The PI was told that a DVSA investigation, following the issue of an S-marked prohibition for a vehicle without working indicators, discovered a 62% prohibition rate for its vehicles and 50% prohibition rate for trailers since the DVSA last visited the operator.
No action was reported on defect reports and a roadworthiness prohibition was issued for load security in 2014.
When visiting in February examiners were told the Barthomley, Crewe-based company did not operate any trailers, but this was contradicted by numerous prohibitions to trailers, including one a few weeks earlier. When the TC asked why the operator had not responded to the findings of the investigation as requested, George Talbot blamed his son and transport manager, Stephen Talbot, who refused to attend the PI.
In his written decision last month TC Jones disqualified Stephen Talbot from holding a transport manager position.
“The failings are clear and in the absence of a satisfactory explanation for non-attendance, there must be an expectation that he loses his good repute,” Jones said.
The TC said George Talbot could not be trusted to run a compliant business and revoked the O-licences held by Alsager Contractors and a sole trader business in his name from 1 November.
Anthony Talbot, son of George Talbot and former Alsager Contractors director, applied for an O-licence for his company, DG Environmental, at the PI. He assured the TC that his father would have no role in running the business.
The TC said he called DG Environmental to a PI as he was concerned the application was made to obtain an O-licence should Alsager Contractors and George Talbot lose theirs. “Anthony Talbot seeks to run a business independent of his father,” said the TC, who granted DG Environmental an O-licence.
