Bolton-based Atlantic Travel has had its O-licence authorisation curtailed from 30 vehicles to 27, following an ‘unsatisfactory’ maintenance investigation in August 2017.
Criticisms included incomplete records, an absence of brake tests, use of a vehicle without MOT and ineffective driver defect reporting systems, along with prohibitions issued during the inspection.
Traffic Commissioner (TC) for the North West, Simon Evans, issued a strong warning to both the operator and its transport manager, Rehana Dean.
The TC also required the operator to enter into an undertaking that during the month of October 2018, it will commission at its own expense an O-licence compliance audit and provide a report of that audit by November 15, 2018.
The report will need to be accompanied by the operator’s proposals to implement any recommendations contained within it.
The TC commented: “Enough positive steps have been taken for me to be satisfied that the repute both of this operator and its transport manager remains intact. Financial standing is met and professional competence is retained.
I am however minded to take some regulatory action against this licence by varying the condition attached to it, limiting the number of vehicles that may be operated.
“I am minded to reflect the operator’s failure to act promptly and appropriately upon the warning previously given both to it and its transport manager, after the initial maintenance inspection, and upon the outcome of the first audit report.
“By taking steps which I take, I prevent expansion of operations at this time, until I am satisfied that this can be done against a background of compliance.
“I require a further audit in order that I might be assured that the operator is taking its responsibilities seriously for managing its relationship with its maintenance contractor, in ensuring vehicles are deployed which are fit and serviceable.”
