DTC takes action after second no-show
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held by Leeds-based McHugh Earthworks was revoked by North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Mark Hinchliffe after the company failed to appear at a Leeds disciplinary inquiry for a second time.
The company had been called before the DTC due to concern expressed over its vehicle maintenance approach and a conviction for using more vehicles than was actually covered by its licence.
The DTC adjourned the hearing in July in order to provide the firm with a further opportunity to attend. In a statement, vehicle examiner Stephen White explained that he had carried out an unannounced maintenance investigation after allegations that the company had switched its maintenance contractor.
He inspected the one vehicle that was being used and issued it with a defect notice.
Two additional maintenance contractors were being used.
At a previous public inquiry. in February 2007, the firm had undertaken to have its vehicles inspected every four weeks.
The inspection records showed that the stated inspection period had been exceeded on three occasions, once by up to eight weeks and two days.
Director Anthony McHugh said that he classed the annual test as an inspection.
Most of the inspection records failed to show rectification work, which was requested by the Traffic Commissioner. The firm had vowed to have an audit by a contractor of at least one vehicle every three months, but there was only one record of a satisfactory inspection.
Three immediate and five delayed prohibitions had been issued to the company's vehicles since June 2004.