Dukes Transport lose appeal against 10-year operating ban

It has been reported that Portadown-based haulage firm Dukes Transport have had their appeal dismissed over a 10-year ban against holding an operators licence in Britain.

The judgment made at Edinburgh's Transport Tribunal means that the company, which employs over 500 people, will now make a further appeal to the Court of Petty Sessions in Edinburgh.

Despite the setback, Managing Director Ronald Duke, sought to reassure employees in Northern Ireland and confirmed that their operators licence for the province – which represents 90 per cent of Duke's stock – is unaffected by the judgments. The current court wrangle relates solely to commercial travel on mainland Britain.

"This has to go to the Scottish Sessions and it will take another four or five months, but this doesn't affect the operation of the company from day to day. It won't have any overall bearing on the company," Mr Duke said.

The problems for the company original started in 1999 when 42 of Dukes Transport's drivers were convicted of falsifying tachograph data. The tachograph is a device used to monitor that the driver has adequate rest periods while driving.

A judgment the following November saw Winston and Ronald Duke banned from holding an operating licence in Britain for 10 years and other senior executives were barred for periods ranging from two to six years.

In its ruling dismissing the company's appeal, the tribunal concluded that the evidence had painted "a picture of senior management that was beyond its prime and both unwilling and unable to make necessary changes". The tribunal noted that "even now the company lacked the necessary commitment and direction" and described the company's control mechanisms as a "shambles".

The company declined to make further comment on the case, and the Department of the Environment also refused to comment on the implication of the judgment until the full judicial process has concluded. However, a spokesman for the Portadown-based company said that senior staff were unaware of any problems, and were unable to comment further.

The company has done well of late and the Belfast Telegraph placed Dukes Transport 73rd in its list of the province's top 100 performing companies.

(GMcG)