If you’ve received a letter calling you to attend a Public Inquiry, it can feel like the ground has shifted beneath you.
The first thing to understand is this: a Public Inquiry is serious — but it is not automatically the end of your operator’s licence.
What Is a Public Inquiry?
A Public Inquiry is a formal hearing held by the Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain to examine concerns about an operator’s licence.
It is not a criminal court, but it is a legal process. The Commissioner will review whether you continue to meet the requirements of:
- Good repute
- Professional competence
- Financial standing
- Effective and continuous management of the licence
Public Inquiries are usually triggered by issues such as:
- Repeated roadside prohibitions
- Poor maintenance records
- Drivers’ hours breaches
- Failure to comply with undertakings
- Loss of a Transport Manager
- Serious incidents or enforcement action
What Happens at a Public Inquiry?
You will receive a formal call-up letter explaining the concerns. This may reference reports from the DVSA or previous compliance history.
At the hearing, the Traffic Commissioner will ask questions about:
- Your systems and procedures
- How issues were identified
- What corrective action has been taken
- Whether problems are historic or ongoing
- Who is responsible for compliance
The Commissioner’s role is not to catch you out — it is to assess whether you are fit to continue holding an operator’s licence.
Common Mistakes Operators Make
When facing a Public Inquiry, some operators:
- Panic and do nothing
- Blame drivers without evidence
- Turn up without organised documentation
- Focus on excuses instead of solutions
- Fail to show meaningful improvement
A Public Inquiry is not about perfection. It is about demonstrating control, accountability, and improvement.
What the Traffic Commissioner Wants to See
In simple terms, the Commissioner wants evidence that:
- You understand what went wrong
- You have identified the root cause
- You have implemented corrective action
- You have systems in place to prevent repeat issues
This might include:
- Updated maintenance systems
- External compliance audits
- Driver retraining
- Clear role allocation between Director, Transport Manager, and admin
- Evidence of ongoing monitoring
Showing structured improvement can significantly influence the outcome.
Possible Outcomes
Following a Public Inquiry, the Traffic Commissioner may:
- Take no action
- Issue formal warnings
- Impose licence undertakings
- Curtail vehicle authorisation
- Suspend the licence
- Revoke the licence
Outcomes depend heavily on the seriousness of the issues and how well the operator demonstrates control and improvement.
The Key Message
A Public Inquiry is about trust. The Traffic Commissioner must be satisfied that your operation is safe, compliant, and properly managed.
If you are facing a Public Inquiry, early preparation is critical. Waiting until the week before the hearing is rarely enough.
LDP Transport Consultancy supports operators with:
- Compliance reviews
- Corrective action planning
- Responsibility matrices
- Ongoing monitoring systems
- Structured preparation for Public Inquiry
If you have received a call-up letter or are concerned about your compliance position, act early and get proper support.
Staying proactive can make the difference between recovery and revocation.
