Case Studies

Case Study One

A Manufacturing company in the West Midlands employing around 100 people with a Transport Operation used to deliver product direct to wholesalers nationwide. The transport operation, which employed 12 of the staff, was a vital part of the companies offering as they could take an order, manufacture it and ensure flexible delivery in 48 hours if necessary.

The company operated under a Restricted Operators Licence which was appropriate for their operation and did not require a qualified Transport Manager. However, due to a lack of an experienced Transport Manager, over time bad habits developed. There was not a simple to operate but robust system in place to ensure that the Drivers and the Operation remained fully compliant and, as a result of a random DVSA roadside check, the operation found themselves invited to a Public Inquiry.

A S Miles Consulting Ltd worked closely with the Client, their Legal Representatives and independent auditors to ensure that not only a robust defense case was built but more importantly the errors were corrected and systems were put in place to ensure no further issues will occur. Staff at all levels were trained on the correct systems, how to manage suppliers to the Transport operation, working together and how to identify problems and correct them before they become a major issue.

The company had their O Licence suspended for 6 weeks and were required to have regular audits until the Traffic Commissioner was satisfied that they could show they had remained compliant.

Additionally, they have found the fleet maintenance costs have reduced, tyre costs have dropped to one quarter of the previous levels and employee retention has increased. Their OCRS score is now climbing back towards Green in all aspects.

Restricted Operators Licence | Public Inquiry

West Midlands, transport operation, restricted operators licence, transport manager, DVSA roadside check, DVSA, public inquiry, public enquiry, traffic commissioner, operator compliance risk score,OCRS score, fleet maintenance costs, AS Miles Consulting

Case Study covering a manufacturing company in the West Midlands which found itself invited to a Public Inquiry as a result of a random DVSA roadside check.

Case Study Two

A Plant Hire and Sales Company in the Midlands that operates Nationwide as well as Exporting Globally held a Restricted Licence. The owner trusted the drivers to look after the vehicles and provided accounts at various locations to allow this to happen.

This case was a referral to A S Miles Consulting from another client of ours.

Following a Random Roadside check by the DVSA it was found that the drivers had not been looking after the vehicles as the owner had wished for. The vehicle was Prohibited from moving at the roadside by the DVSA. This incident caused the DVSA to attend the company site to review their systems; many short comings were identified and the Traffic Commissioner was duly notified of the findings. This in turn lead to the company being called to a Public Inquiry.

At this point the owner realized that although he has set up what he believed were systems to keep the vehicles in good order, they had in fact not been and it was his responsibility to of ensured compliance.

At the point A S Miles Consulting Ltd were called there was a real risk of this business loosing it’s Operating Licence with a significant impact to the business. We called in a firm of specialist Transport Lawyers who we regularly work with and set about putting in place systems, working with maintenance providers – who had let things slip too – to raise standards, training drivers on correct processes, ensuring data analysis was completed correctly and that the operation would go forward in a Safe and Complaint way.

After an interesting afternoon in front of the Traffic Commissioner the Operator received a formal warning over his behavior but importantly kept his Licence.

The owner has now retained A S Miles Consulting Ltd to ensure that the operation remains safe and compliant and to help embed it in the culture of the company
Operating Licence | Public Inquiry

Restricted licence, operating licence, DVSA roadside check, DVSA, traffic commissioner, public inquiry, midlands, AS Miles Consulting

At the point A S Miles Consulting Ltd were called there was a real risk of this business loosing it’s Operating Licence with a significant impact to the business.