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Interim authority for rookie owner-driver
A DRIVER MADE redundant due to the recession has been given interim authority to start his own business, despite concerns about his nominated transport manager.
Stephen Batey, trading as SB Haulage of Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, had sought a new onevehicle international licence before North-Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Elizabeth Perrett.
Batey had been a lorry driver for 20 years and had worked for Instant Link until last year. The recession had forced it to lay off drivers.TWo customers had offered work if he got his own vehicle. He had worked for his father, Frank Batey, for two years about seven years ago.
The DTC said Frank Batey's licence had been revoked, partly because transport manager Jackie Steele had little to do with the business. She was the transport manager nominated in Stephen Batey's application and was nominated on two other 0-licences, declaring that she worked 18 hours a week for them. She proposed to work eight hours a week for Batcy.
Batey admitted not knowing what systems Steele had set up and never having seen a safety inspection sheet. The DTC was concerned that Batey was going into this without really knowing what was involved, and tha Steele had not reported her non involvement with Frank Batey': licence to the Traffic Area Offic( or the TC.
After hearing that there ha( been no problems with the othe two licences on which Steele wa! nominated as transport manage] the DTC decided to grant Bate! interim authority.
She said she would reviev the situation in six months afte VOSA had carried out checks oi his operation.