The decision by Tim Blackmore, traffic commissioner for the North East of England, followed a public inquiry in Leeds recently, which Coates failed to attend.
The regulator said Coates had shown no apparent desire to gain any knowledge of the licensing system. He added: “The failure to engage with the transport manager over a 10-month period is a serious oversight and led to the breach of drivers’ hours and maintenance responsibilities.”
Blackmore also issued a warning to former transport manager, Mary Brown, for failing to ensure continuous and effective management of the transport operation.
“There is a responsibility of the transport manager to keep the Office of the Traffic Commissioner informed of actions that compromise the compliance of the licence, and her judgement was clouded in this regard by the longstanding friendship of her son with the operator,” he said.
“She should have informed the Office of the Traffic Commissioner that she was no longer working for Alexander Coates and not relied on him to do so.”
