VOSA wins cabotage case

Davidson & Wilson BV have lost their appeal against the impounding of three vehicles and three trailers at a public inquiry in Edinburgh May 24th. The vehicles were operating regularly in Britain without a UK Operators Licence.

This inquiry was held following a four month investigation by the VOSA Northern Investigations Team. The inquiry heard that the operator had been involved in regular work within the UK, despite not holding a UK operator licence. This work was found to be in breach of cabotage rules, with vehicles running regularly on contracts within the UK on a Dutch licence.

A VOSA spokesperson stated: “This is an important decision for future cases and investigations. Operators who choose to bypass the operator licence system in this way, compromising road safety and providing unfair competition, have been given a clear message. I hope compliant operators will also see this as VOSA protecting and supporting their interests. I can assure you that VOSA is determined to investigate other such cases in the same thorough manner”.

VOSA has recently introduced investigation teams across the country to carry out detailed investigations in to illegal operations, false records and serious breaches in the MOT & tachograph Schemes.