At a public inquiry in Edinburgh, Scotland’s traffic commissioner Joan Aitken told Annandale Transport that it would have its O licence cut from 24 to 17 vehicles from the end of October for three months, then reduce to 20 vehicles.
Key to the decision was the firm’s failure to identify offences committed by its drivers, said Aitken.
The regulator said: “Fatigued, un-rested drivers are out on the roads, putting us all at risk. It is not simply a matter of failed administration, it is failed safety control.”
The operator’s history had been “chequered”, she added, without the “day in, day out compliance that is expected and required”.
Aitken also criticised the firm’s director and transport manager, David Hyslop, for his behaviour towards government inspectors. She said he had acted in an “unacceptable and threatening” manner.
“Intimidating and unpleasant behaviour can be used to try to deflect public officials from their duties,” the traffic commissioner noted. “It is unacceptable for an operator director and transport manager to engage in incivility and threatening manner to DVSA examiners.”