International haulier loses licence over ten loose wheel nuts

The case involved Just Haulage Limited, a West Midlands operator authorised to run four tractors and four trailers under a standard international licence. According to a written decision published by the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, the company’s licence was revoked after Deputy Traffic Commissioner G. Pengelly found that the operator had lost its good repute and had also failed to demonstrate appropriate financial standing.

The case followed an S-marked DVSA prohibition issued on 30 April 2025 after a roadside stop involving a tractor unit and trailer operated by Just Haulage.

The most serious defect concerned a trailer wheel. The decision states that all ten wheel nuts were loose on one of the trailer’s wheels, and that the trailer would likely have been in use in that condition for some time before the DVSA stop at around 09:49.

Deputy Traffic Commissioner Pengelly said pedestrians and other road users had been put at serious risk, adding that there was a “far from fanciful” risk of a heavy tyre becoming insecure while the trailer was moving. The decision concluded that the trailer had been used in a “very dangerous condition” on the day of the prohibition.

Missing inspections and poor defect checks

The decision also found wider failings in the operator’s maintenance system.

One tractor unit had been operated with its engine management light illuminated since 28 March 2025. The Commissioner said the vehicle should have been kept off the road until the cause had been rectified, as the warning light could indicate safety-critical engine issues.

The trailer involved in the prohibition should have been inspected at six-weekly intervals, but the decision found there was no evidence of it being examined in 2025 before the DVSA prohibition. The Commissioner said a trailer being used for a substantial period without preventive maintenance inspections imperilled road safety.

Driver defect reports were also found to be inadequate. The decision says defects that should have been spotted by drivers during walkaround checks were instead only picked up later during inspections. The Commissioner said this showed the operator’s drivers were not carrying out proper walkaround checks in line with DVSA’s Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness.

MOT pass rate stood at 50%

The Traffic Commissioner also pointed to the operator’s MOT performance. At the time of DVSA’s July 2025 visit, Just Haulage had an initial and final MOT pass rate of 50%.

The decision said defects identified at MOT, including oil leaks and items blocking the driver’s view of the road, should have been clear to the transport manager before the vehicle was presented for testing.

The operator was also criticised for failing to provide complete driver defect records and preventive maintenance inspection sheets when requested. The Commissioner said this left little evidence to show whether the business had “turned a corner” after DVSA had identified problems.

Transport manager disqualified for 12 months

The company’s licence was revoked with effect from 19 February 2026. The request for a period of grace was refused.

Craig Hipkins, the company’s former transport manager, was found to have lost his good repute and was disqualified from acting as a transport manager in Great Britain for 12 months, from 19 February 2026 to 19 February 2027.

The decision also notes that the operator had made some changes after DVSA’s intervention, including a change of maintenance provider, new policies, improved record-keeping in some areas and a “show and tell” discussion about wheel security. However, the Commissioner gave these improvements limited weight because the evidence did not show that an effective and consistently implemented maintenance system had been established.