A commercial fleet operator has been labelled “ignorant” and “incompetent” by a traffic commissioner at a recent public inquiry.

Deputy traffic commissioner Nick Denton heard the case of Zak Khan-Siddiq.

The operator held a licence for one vehicle and no trailers and applied to add a trailer.

However, there was suspicion that he was already operating the trailer and the application was refused.

Kahn-Siddiq had been given the option for a public inquiry to consider the application and he requested this.

The deputy commissioner heard evidence from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) gained from ANPR cameras showing Khan-Siddiq operating beyond his existing authority, details of prohibitions given at roadside encounters and a poor pass rate at MOT.

Furthermore, Denton saw maintenance records and an audit which showed ‘major non-compliance’ and unacceptable practices.

Financial records also showed that the operator did not always meet the proper standing.

In Kahn-Siddiq's defence, his representative, transport consultant Charlie Ahmed conceded that it would be impossible to argue that the operator was compliant today.

But he said that Khan-Siddiq was determined to do better.

He now had a transport manager in place, had attended an operator licence management course, and had the support of his wife, he said. He could be trusted to comply in the future.

A 14 day suspension might be survivable; anything more would put him out of business, he added. 

Khan-Siddiq requested a period of grace of three months in which to show financial standing on a permanent basis.

However, after considering the evidence, Denton said: “He seems to have embarked upon the world of operator licensing without the slightest idea of what is involved and without any knowledge of the function and purpose of a transport manager.

“As this is Mr Khan-Siddiq’s first inquiry, and as I consider that his failings stem more from ignorance and incompetence rather than a deliberate decision not to comply (the operation of the trailer excepted), I am imposing a 12-month disqualification.”

Further details of the case can be found here.