Revoked haulage licences over laundered fuel

ReturnLoads.net can report that the Department of Environment (DoE) Northern Ireland has been praised by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) for revoking three freight operator’s road haulage licences for using laundered fuel.
 

The licences were revoked for the illegal use of fuel and other infringements under the Goods Vehicle (Licensing of Operators) Act (Northern Ireland) 2010.
 

“The majority of goods vehicle operators work within the law. These decisions reinforce the clear message to any operator, tempted to indulge in wrong practices, including the illegal use of fuel, to think again.” said Environment Minister Mark Durkan 
 

FTA has said that it fully supports the DoE, Transport Regulation Unit, PSNI and HMRC in their pursuit of operators using illegal fuel.

Seamus Leheny, policy and membership relations manager - Northern Ireland, commented: “FTA is delighted at the DoE’s decision as we believe operator licence revocation is the only appropriate response in these circumstances. This type of illegal activity is destroying lawful and fair competition in the transport sector.
 

“Such operators cannot be considered as of good repute, and should have their road haulage licence revoked. The potential rewards for operators using laundered fuel are so substantial, that fines or imprisonment alone are not a sufficient deterrent, these operators must also be disqualified from trading as licensed transport operators. Members of the FTA welcome this action as illegal operators often undercut them on prices thus depriving legitimate companies of revenue and subsequently jobs.”