Chesterfield-based DW Coaches has licence cut for two months after poor vehicle conditions, stretched maintenance frequencies and failure to manage staff
The licence held by Daniel Warden, trading as DW Coaches, has been cut from 12 vehicles to 10 for a period of a month by Deputy Traffic Commissioner (DTC) Simon Evans.
Mr Warden, of Clay Cross, Chesterfield, appeared before the DTC at a Golborne Public Inquiry. In May DTC Miles Dorrington adjourned the proceedings after the DVSA failed to undertake a requirement for up to date reports after a Vehicle Examiner (VE) and a Traffic Examiner (TE) who had made initial reports had left the agency [routeone/Court Report/25 May].
After DTC Evans had said that at the previous hearing DTC Dorrington indicated that it would be helpful if Workshop Manager Terry Robinson attended on the next occasion, Mr Warden said that he had declined to come. He thought Mr Robinson would be better remaining to look after the vehicles.
The DTC said that allegations had been made that Mr Robinson’s conduct and behaviour, in that he had been very rude, obstructive and had undermined what DVSA was doing.
Mr Warden said that if someone came in with “an attitude” then Mr Robinson would act in the same way. The DVSA officers’ attitude had been that their work was more important. It was a very busy day.
He personally had had to take a bus out, as there was nobody else to drive it. The DVSA officers who had come in recently had come in with a different attitude [routeone/Court Report/26 October].
In his decision the DTC said that vehicles had not been kept in a fit and serviceable condition and driver defect reporting arrangements had been unsatisfactory. In addition Mr Warden had used more vehicles on the road than were specified on the licence.
No particular dates when that happened were known and he accepted Mr Warden’s assurance that such serious failures were no longer being perpetrated.
There was evidence of stretched maintenance frequencies and that driver defect reporting and first use checks were of questionable quality.
He was satisfied there was a clear failure to manage staff member, Terry Robinson, in 2015 and to properly understand the role of DVSA in carrying out its responsibilities. However, that that finding had to some extent been capable of moderation as a result of the subsequent investigation that clearly went off without any concern.
Finally, the DTC required undertakings that there be an independent audit, that the traffic area be notified if the services of Transport Consultant Trevor Barker were dispensed with, and that Mr Warden undertake Transport Manager refresher training.
