Davis said Millin’s involvement and his moves to upgrade the operator’s commercial vehicle fleet had been instrumental in the significant improvement around prohibitions.
She also acknowledged that he advised the operator as soon as the previous transport manager had resigned – including making a timely application to nominate a replacement CPC holder.
In this case, the operator, UK-Net Transport was called to public inquiry following two unsatisfactory maintenance investigations.
The first, in September 2015, revealed shortcomings including out of date inspection records, prohibitions issued for driver detectable defects and the use of a trailer without an annual test. The company responded and advised that its then transport manager Simon Proctor had resigned.
In June 2016, a second maintenance investigation was also marked unsatisfactory, with problems again around driver defect reporting and further prohibitions. Additionally, a vehicle stopped in February 2016 did not have a valid annual test certificate, having been out of test on 31 January 2016.
Newly appointed Millin provided a response to the shortcomings and set out actions that had been taken following the second investigation.
After hearing further evidence during the inquiry, Davis determined that the operator’s licence could continue on the basis of the new transport manager appointment.
She made an order to curtail the licence from 10 vehicles and 10 trailers to eight vehicles and 10 trailers for three months as deterrent action against further noncompliance.
The curtailment commenced at 23:59 on 16 August and will end at 23:59 on 15 November.
The repute of the firm’s former transport manager, Simon Proctor, was found to be severely tarnished.