• One of our highly experienced consultants will meet with you in person or via zoom to review the evidence, discuss in detail any documents and findings from audits/ reports. Our consultant at this stage will advise on how best to proceed.

• Our Consultants work closely with many transport specialist solicitors, we can provide you recommendations should you not already have a legal representative allocated. We will work closely with your solicitor throughout the case to ensure no stone is left unturned.

• We will ensure that you have exemplary compliance systems in place prior to the Inquiry. We have a huge range of services we can provide to assist with shortfalls.

• Guide you through the process and identify what steps you need to take to ensure that on the day the strongest possible arguments can be put forwards.

• Represent you in person at your Public Inquiry hearing to present your evidence and put forward legal arguments on your behalf.

• Phone, email, zoom and in person contact throughout to ensure you always have us on hand for advice, to answer questions and to speak with should you need to. We understand this is a very stressful and daunting time, that brings with it high levels of anxiety and uncertainty. We will be there to reassure and clarify as much as possible along the way.

A Public Inquiry is a type of disciplinary hearing held by the Traffic Commissioner UK (TC) or Transport Regulatory Unit -NI (TRU). It is not a criminal court case, but can determine the ability for your company to trade.

There are three main reasons you can find yourself at Public Inquiry:

• You are an existing Operator Licence holder or Transport Manager and there are suspicions that you are not managing your licence properly.

• You have applied for an operator’s licence but there are concerns with you or your application.

• Local residents have complained about your operating centre

Seek advice from us as soon as possible! Do not ignore letters calling you to public inquiry, they will not go away!

The Traffic Commissioner/ TRU will question you directly if you are the director or transport manager, and you will be expected to explain any compliance failings that have come to light. This opens an opportunity for defence, assisted via your solicitor and transport consultant.

They will also examine all of your transport records. They will want to check for example, whether:

• Preventative Maintenance Inspections are taking place on time

• Drivers’ hours offences are arising

• Daily defect reports are being completed

• You have the necessary financial standing

• You have been dishonest with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner or DVSA / VOSA

• You have proper maintenance contracts in place.

The Traffic Commissioner will then decide what action to take against your licence.

The Traffic Commissioner & TRU has a very wide powers. He or she can:

• Revoke your licence

• Refuse to grant any application for a licence

• Cut the number of vehicles you can operate

• Suspend your licence

• Require you to agree to restrictive licence conditions

• Disqualify you from being an operator now or in the future

• Decide that you are no longer of good repute

Given the risks involved, you should always seek professional representation from a specialist Public inquiry consultant and/or lawyer. We represent cases throughout NI & UK on a regular basis, we have working relationships with many legal representatives in the field and can provide you with the level of defence you need. We have a proven record at having positive outcomes for our clients at Public Inquiries.

The best course of action is to contact us directly and we will arrange a meeting to discuss your case in detail. Each case is unique and as individual as the owners, we treat each case as such.