A transport manager dismissed by a South Wales waste management company, following its failure to adhere to vehicle safety standards, has been disqualified from working in the industry by traffic commissioner Nick Jones (pictured below).
Kevin Davies, of Ponthenry, Llanelli, was told that he would be prevented from acting as a transport manager, after the regulator ruled he no longer met the mandatory criteria for professional competence.
The position of transport manager is a key role in the haulage industry, he was reminded, being the individual responsible for overseeing vehicle and driver standards.
During a public inquiry at Cardiff Magistrates' Court early in October, Davies heard that the disqualification order would remain in force until he retook and passed his certificate of professional competence – the industry standard qualification for transport managers.
The inquiry was told Davies had been employed by Agresol, a waste management business operating from Whitland, Swansea and Carmarthen, as the company's transport manager.
In February 2012, the firm was prosecuted for using a vehicle with no MOT and fined £400 at Swansea Magistrates' Court. The vehicle was stopped by VOSA (the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) on 10 November 2011, when records revealed the annual test had expired on 30 September.
The company had also previously been the subject of another investigation by VOSA, which raised concerns over vehicle safety standards.
An VOSA examiner reported shortcomings in the operator's maintenance regime, including that vehicles were not getting routine safety inspections on time and prohibition notices were being issued for serious defects.
Following the investigation, the company wrote to the traffic commissioner to confirm that Davies had been dismissed.
Agresol also faced action from the traffic commissioner in respect of the maintenance shortcomings and conviction. Jones ruled that the firm's licence would be curtailed from 10 to six vehicles.
He also secured commitments from the operator for future compliance, including that routine safety inspections would be completed at the agreed time.