The operator’s licence held by Banham Group Ltd has been curtailed by the Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the East of England, Miles Dorrington.
The order, which came into effect on 24 July 2017, reduces the company’s vehicle authorisation from 43 to 36 vehicles. The trailer authorisation remains at 45.
Dorrington also issued a severe written warning to the firm’s former transport manager, Peter Riches and suspended him from professional driving for seven days.
The company and Riches were called to a public inquiry following an investigation by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
In October 2016, a traffic examiner requested records from the company relating its vehicles and drivers.
After analysing documents produced by the firm, the DVSA officer identified 45 drivers’ hours offences. Further investigations revealed that Riches had failed to record other work, as required, prior to driving a vehicle on 23 June 2016.
In the 24 hour period beginning on that day at 06:44, he took an insufficient rest period of three hours and 40 minutes.
Riches worked a day in the office then drove between 19:34 on 23 June and 06:43 on 24 June.
His working day was extended to cover a duty period of 23 hours and 59 minutes – the maximum allowed is 15 hours.
In an interview with the examiner about the offence, Riches said an agency driver had called off at the last minute and he was thinking about the company rather than his personal situation. He acknowledged he should have left the vehicle in the yard and his decision had been completely and utterly stupid.
The Deputy Traffic Commissioner concluded that the breach committed by Riches was very serious but accepted that it was a one off and out of character.
The company was also found to be keeping its vehicles at a site in Attleborough without permission. It had been operating from an unauthorised site for 20 years.
During the inquiry, Dorrington also considered an application made by the company to replace Mr Riches as transport manager with Craig Riches, his son. Dorrington heard evidence from Craig Riches at the inquiry and was satisfied that he met the requirements to be nominated as the firm’s transport manager.