A ‘strong formal warning’ was handed down by the deputy traffic commissioner to Cumbrian haulier Dent Logistics after it failed to report a fatal road traffic collision (RTC), reports Chris Tindall.
The Penrith-based operator also failed to notify TC’s office that it had been prosecuted and convicted after one of its drivers was found to be driving without a valid CPC qualification for two years.
At a public inquiry (PI) presided over by DTC Gerallt Evans Dent Logistics’ transport manager Fiona Cannon apologised and said she was unaware the matter needed to be notified.
Former transport manager Hollie Dent also attended the PI and accepted responsibility for checking Arran Barbieri’s driving licence when he was employed in July 2021.
She failed to notice his CPC had expired, although DTC Gerallt Evans said there was some mitigation in that the operator should have checked the system again and identified the error more swiftly.
However, he noted that Hollie Dent should also have notified his office when she later resigned as transport manager at the end of 2023.
The DTC also said the situation was aggravated when Fiona Cannon, the partner of sole director Thomas Dent, made the decision to continue using Barbieri for driving duties until he undertook the required training three months’ later.
Dent Logistics operate 90 HGVs and 100 trailers.
For the full story go to the Motor Transport website.
