Return is not automatic
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• A number of truck drivers have appeared before West Midland Traffic Commissioner David Dixon at a Birmingham public inquiry seeking the restoration of their WV driving licences.
The TC reminded them that the restoration of a driver's LGV entitlement was not automatic at the end of a ban, as a much higher standard of fitness and conduct was required from drivers of large vehicles.
Simon Drust. of Studley, V4rarks had been disqualified from driving for 17 months in May 1997 for drink-driving The TC also took account of four speeding convictions Drust said that since losing his WV licence he had been forced to keep one truck off the road, which had cost him dear.
The TC said he would restore Drust's LGV licence at the beginning of next year: it was normal in these circumstances to impose a further period of suspension so that the person concerned could get used to driving a car before driving a large vehicle again.
Steven Parrish, of Hall Green, Birmingham, had two alcoholrelated convictions; one in 1989 and the other in 1996. On the second occasion he was disqualified from driving for three years, but that period was subsequently reduced and his car licence was returned at the end of July.
Parrish said he had lost his job as transport/quality manager with a large transport company as a result of the conviction. He was now operations manager of a parcels company in Coventry and it would be useful to be able to drive rather than employ agency drivers.
Indicating that he would restore Parrish's WV licence at the beginning of February, the TC said that under the guide lines, with two drinking and driving convictions behind him, there was a question mark over Parrish's LGV licence.
Dixon refused to restore the LGV driving licence held by Gordon Cullwick, of Malvern. Cullwick had been convicted of two drink-driving offences, and had been put on probation for the second offence.
The TC said that if Cullwick made a further application in six months time he would review the situation.