Some operators fail to fulfil the undertaking on their licence to keep vehicles fit and serviceable. 

They end up at public inquiry due to a lack of robust maintenance systems. All too often, this leads to unsafe vehicles on public roads.

Mr Denton, Traffic Commissioner for West Midlands, had a recent case where tape had been used to conceal a long standing fault with a vehicle warning light.

Safety issues with the operator’s vehicles were worrying: the firm’s fitter failed to deal with an ABS warning light which was reported every day for two months; there were serious issues with the exhaust and the braking system; and tape had been used to cover the AdBlue warning light, allowing the vehicle to continue in service with emissions above the permitted limit.

The transport manager’s repute was left severely damaged. The findings of the investigation led the Traffic Commissioner to say he had “spread himself too thinly” in his roles as director and transport manager.

The operator had its licence reduced from 27 to 22 vehicles immediately after the inquiry – and will be limited to running 20 vehicles from 9 April.

Professional competence is a mandatory requirement of your licence. Incompetent transport managers can put your licence at risk if they don’t manage transport operations effectively. 

The Senior Traffic Commissioner’s guidance on transport managers sets out what is expected of a competent transport manager. It's available to read here.