MDB Logistics Limited, which held a Standard National goods vehicle operator’s licence for four vehicles, will lose its licence with effect from 12 March 2026, following findings of unlawful licence lending and serious failures in oversight. At the same time, an application by J&M Plant Hire Ltd for a restricted operator’s licence has been refused.
The decision follows a conjoined Public Inquiry held in Golborne in December 2025, after an investigation by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency raised concerns over how vehicles were being operated after a previous licence held by a linked company expired.
Licence lending confirmed
The Traffic Commissioner found that vehicles owned by J&M continued to operate after the expiry of a previous operator’s licence in July 2023 by being placed on the MDB Logistics licence, despite being driven by drivers not employed by MDB and undertaking work that was not controlled by the licence holder.
Evidence showed that income from the work was split between the companies, with J&M retaining most of the revenue while MDB received a percentage. No valid leasing or operating agreement was produced, and the arrangement was deemed to amount to unlawful licence lending, contrary to the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995.
Although MDB accepted the findings and cooperated with the investigation, the Commissioner noted that the vehicles remained on the licence until December 2025, despite the operator being put on notice of DVSA concerns months earlier.
The decision states that this delay was a critical factor in the outcome.
Oversight failures weighed heavily
Beyond licence lending, the inquiry found that MDB failed to meet its undertakings as a licence holder. The Commissioner cited:
- inadequate maintenance records for the vehicles in question,
- stretched safety inspection intervals,
- an absence of brake test evidence,
- and a lack of effective management of drivers’ hours and tachograph data.
The Commissioner concluded that MDB no longer met the requirement of good repute and that the conduct was sufficiently serious to justify revocation.
“Any decision other than revocation would give the wrong message to the wider industry,” the written decision states, emphasising that trust is a cornerstone of the operator licensing system.
Transport manager warned, but not disqualified
The company’s sole director and named transport manager, Mark Dawson Bevis, was also called to the inquiry. While the Commissioner found that his good repute as a transport manager was “severely tarnished”, it was not deemed to be lost.
The decision distinguishes between failures linked to the lending of the licence and the wider management of MDB’s lawful operations, noting that the operator’s MOT pass rate and compliance risk score were otherwise in line with national norms.
Mr Bevis was issued with a formal warning and reminded of his statutory duty to ensure continuous and effective management of transport operations. No disqualification order was made.
Application refused over trust and fitness concerns
The application by J&M Plant Hire Ltd for a restricted operator’s licence was refused after the Commissioner concluded that the company failed to meet the statutory requirements relating to fitness, compliance systems and financial standing.
Key factors included the continuation of vehicle operations after a previous licence had expired, failures to cooperate with regulatory requests, and the non-disclosure of a linked company’s liquidation during the application process. The Commissioner said these issues undermined trust and raised serious doubts about future compliance.
Under the legislation, where mandatory requirements are not met, the Traffic Commissioner is required to refuse the application.
