If you've received a letter calling you to a Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiry, it's understandable to be concerned.
The important thing to know is that a Public Inquiry is a formal hearing where the Traffic Commissioner considers whether an operator remains fit to hold an Operator Licence. Being called to one does not automatically mean you will lose your licence.
What happens next and how you respond to the issues that led to the hearing can be extremely important.
Watch: What Happens at a Public Inquiry?
Why Might an Operator Be Called to Public Inquiry?
There are many reasons why the Traffic Commissioner may decide a Public Inquiry is necessary.
These can include:
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Drivers' hours offences
- Bridge strikes
- Financial standing concerns
- A poor DVSA assessment
- Failure to notify material changes
- Concerns about the effectiveness of the Transport Manager
- Previous prohibitions or compliance failures
Often, the problem hasn't appeared overnight.
There may have been previous warning signs, such as prohibitions, maintenance concerns, repeated driver infringements or regulatory correspondence that wasn't properly addressed.
What Will the Traffic Commissioner Want to Know?
While every case is different, three questions are particularly important:
1. What went wrong?
2. Why did it go wrong?
3. What have you done to make sure it doesn't happen again?
That final question can be particularly significant.
Simply correcting paperwork immediately before a hearing may not demonstrate that the underlying problem has been addressed.
An operator should be able to explain what happened, demonstrate that the issue has been investigated and provide evidence of meaningful improvements.
What Should You Do After Receiving a Public Inquiry Letter?
Don't ignore it and don't leave preparation until the last minute.
Read the call-up letter carefully and understand exactly what concerns have been raised.
Start gathering the relevant evidence and review the compliance systems connected to those concerns.
Where weaknesses exist, identify them honestly and put appropriate corrective action in place.
The objective shouldn't be to make the operation look compliant for the hearing. It should be to demonstrate that genuine improvements have been made and can be sustained.
Public Inquiry Support
LDP Transport Consultancy provides Traffic Commissioner and Public Inquiry support for HGV operators, including independent compliance reviews, preparation and practical assistance in addressing the issues that have led to regulatory action.
If you've received a Public Inquiry call-up letter and need help preparing, contact LDP Transport Consultancy as soon as possible to discuss your case.
