Last month we attended a Public Inquiry in Leeds with one of our consultancy restricted licence operators.
The purpose of the Public Inquiry was for the Traffic Commissioner to discuss DVSA reports (TEVR and MIVR) from April and May 2024 and consider disciplinary action. In the words of the Traffic Commissioner, Mr Blackmore OBE they were two of the worst reports he had seen in recent times.
Fast forward to yesterday and the operator received a short-term curtailment and undertakings of a compliance audit and continuation to use a consultant.

Mr Blackmore OBE was very clear in his summary that had the operator been in the position yesterday that they were in May 2024 he would have been left with little option but to revoke the operator licence.

Whilst the outcome was favourable to the operator it rewarded them somewhat to the work they had undertaken in the previous 12 months and additionally their investment in not only contracting us as consultants but being receptive to ideas and suggestions of systems, training and processes. So how did the operator return from the brink of revocation?

• Acted swiftly following the DVSA investigations contracting ourselves as consultants.
• Arranged for all management to attend OLAT course training within the first three months.
• Implementing new tachograph software.
• Installing remote download hardware.
• Implementing digital maintenance system including daily walk around checks and defect reporting.
• Adding a digital toolbox talk system to the training resources for all drivers.
• Commissioning us to deliver bespoke 1-2-1 training with all drivers in respect of driver’s hours, working time, tachograph use, walkaround checks, safe loading and assessing drivers performance.
• Incentivising drivers to performance within the framework of the new processes.
• Providing clear instructions to drivers via a bespoke written process manual.
• Acting on advice and guidance provided in the monthly consultancy reports.

In the early part of the process, it was difficult, time consuming and required an influx of payments, subscriptions and expense but the operator stuck with it, embraced it and despite always accepting a Public Inquiry call-up may materialise did not wait for it to happen but acted immediately.

That is the key part of this case in that the operator with the assistance of us and their solicitor was able to demonstrate a remarkable turnaround in 12 months and used that period from DVSA investigation to Public Inquiry wisely and proactively thus giving the Traffic Commissioner no doubt that they could be trusted and will continue on the trajectory of high compliance standards.

If you are reading this and feel you are in the same position this operator WAS and would like to be in the position they now ARE, why not get in contact with us and we can map your return to compliance and most importantly, achieve it.