Decision for Jones Haulage Ltd (OK2071088)
Written decision of the Traffic Commissioner in the South Eastern and Metropolitan area for Jones Haulage Ltd
IN THE SOUTH EASTERN & METROPOLITAN TRAFFIC AREA
PUBLIC INQUIRY: 08 Jan 2026
INTERLOCUTORY ORDER FOR SUSPENSION OF LICENCE OK2071088
TC DECISION
Pursuant to adverse findings under section 26 (1) (h) of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, Licence OK2071088 JONES HAULAGE LTD is suspended with effect from 23:45 on 9 January 2026 until I direct otherwise in writing.
During the period of suspension, the specified vehicles and any other in scope vehicles in possession must not be used or specified on any other Licence in Great Britain, as provided for by section 26(6) of the 1995 Act.
Reasons
On the face of the papers, this is a Licence which meets the starting point for revocation as per Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory document No. 10. This licence was only granted on 07 March 2024. At that time the sole director was Michael Raymond Jones. He resigned as a director according to Companies House on 02 September 2024, but his resignation was not notified to the Office if the Traffic Commissioner until 26 November 2024 (after the 28 days required by the licence undertaking). Leslie Kenyon became a director on 02 September 2024, and this was notified to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner within the statutory period.
A mix of 32 ton and 44 ton combinations have been specified on the licence since March 2024. Mr Paul Ian Smith was the transport manager until 26 January 2025. His continued involvement thereafter is unclear as his self-service full user account was used to remove and add vehicles on 19 February 2025 and 29 June 2025. After a period of grace, on 10 June 2025, Simon Steven Butcher was accepted as the transport manager, having been described by the operator as an already existing employee. According to Companies House, on 20 September 2025 Simon Butcher became a director of the company (assumed to be the transport manager as the date of birth is the same) and on 10 October 2025 Leslie Kenyon resigned as a director. As of the date of this decision these changes have still not been notified, a further breach of an undertaking on the licence. Companies house also indicates that on 10 October 2025 there was a change of ownership is between Mr Kenyon and Mr Butcher. This change has not been notified to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, a breach of a condition on the licence. As at the date of this decision Leslie Kenyon is still listed as the sole director on VOL.
On 16 October 2024 the operator’s vehicles EY64CDE (32 ton) was encountered by DVSA and taken to one of its enforcement check sites. The vehicle was issued with 3 immediate roadworthiness prohibitions, 2 delayed roadworthiness prohibitions, and an offence rectification notice for no vehicle excise licence. The roadworthiness defects included brakes and condition of tyres. Having received assurances from the operator and transport manager a strong formal warning was issued. However, I also requested that DVSA conduct a follow-up Desk Based Assessment (DBA) to consider within the assurances given were matched by the systems in place. As the hearing bundle demonstrates (section B and D) the operator and transport manager failed to cooperate with DVSA and the Office if the Traffic Commissioner in relation to that DBA. Through obfuscation and omission, the operator gained many months without its systems receiving the scrutiny required. This is a gross breach of trust. Further from the limited information that was sent to DVSA, significant driving off card is evidenced. By way of example, 773kms in MX16XFZ between 13:43 on 07 March 2025 (and odometer reading 568954) and 07:05 on 18 March 2025 (start odometer reading 569727). The vehicle was driven without a digi card on 5 of those days with no explanation annotated on the Vehicle Utilisation Report - page 82 of the bundle.
This approach has followed through to the Public Inquiry listed for 08 January 2026. An adjournment request was received on 05 January 2026 and my decision in that regard as a matter of record. The only reply is to repeat the loss of a family member - no meaningful reason for the ongoing failure to co-operate. None of the case management directions have been complied with. Mr Butcher hasn’t even sent in the finance with his e mail of 07 January 2026. At the same time 4 vehicles remain specified on the licence (3X 32 ton and 1X 44 ton). There continues to be an approach of wanting to operate vehicles but avoid any scrutiny. The Office of the Traffic Commissioner has confirmed that even since 02 January 2026 none of the parties have accessed the hearing bundle on Case centre, even though clear instructions on how to do so were in the original call-in letters.
I have reviewed the bundle today to ascertain whether there are any positives to reconsider an adjournment without interim action. This is the operator’s first public inquiry but then the licence was only granted in March 2024. It has a 100% MOT pass rate but that should be given bearing in mind it is one time a year and the operator knows the vehicle will be inspected by DVSA. DVSA data confirms no further roadside encounters. A check on the .gov databases show that of the two vehicles removed on 22 August 2025 one had an MOT which expired in February 2025 and had been untaxed since April 2024. The other had been untaxed since the end of June 2025. One of the vehicles still on the licence (KU15FKE), was added on 28 October 2025 by Mr Kenyon but has been untaxed since 01 September 2025. Also of note is that despite the roadside encounter on 16 October 2024, vehicle EY64CDE has remained untaxed since 01 October 2024 even though it remained on the operator’s licence until 29 June 2025.
In my judgement, it would not be safe or fair to other operators to simply grant an adjournment without assurance it will bring a change of approach. The Operator and transport manager have already wasted a significant amount of Traffic Commissioner and DVSA resource. I retain significant concerns both around who it is I am regulating noting the failures to notify material changes, as well as safety. Accordingly, the only basis upon which I am prepared to grant an adjournment today is through suspending the Licence from tomorrow night (period to get all vehicles/trailers back to the operating centre only). Thereafter they must all be parked up otherwise the Operator will be committing an offence, and the vehicles are liable to impounding by DVSA. This approach is endorsed by the Upper Tribunal in “2012/005 AND Haulage Limited” in these circumstances. The legal basis is the ongoing failure to supply information; all matters remain reserved for a final hearing.
Before I will consider lifting the suspension, and/or relisting for a hearing the Operator/Transport Manager must submit every single piece of information required in the original case management directions. If it has not done so by 13:00 on 08 February 2026 then I will proceed to conclude this decision on the papers without wasting anymore tribunal time.
MISS SARAH BELL
TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER FOR GREAT BRITAIN
Issued: 08 January 2026