Preliminary Hearings & Senior Team Leader Meetings 

The Traffic Commissioner has the discretion to convene a Preliminary Hearing or request that an operator participate in an interview with one of their Senior Team Leaders as an alternative to initiating a Public Inquiry. 

It is important to note that there is no risk of an operator's licence being revoked, curtailed, or suspended as a result of these meetings; however, the Traffic Commissioners may acknowledge an operator’s commitment to implementing improvements and may accept a voluntary reduction in the number of vehicles during these discussions. 

Should the evidence presented during these meetings suggest an escalation in the severity of the case, a Public Inquiry may subsequently be warranted to assess appropriate regulatory measures. 

While these meetings are inherently less formal than a Public Inquiry, they still necessitate meticulous preparation to ensure that the operator’s case is effectively articulated and to mitigate the possibility of escalation to a Public Inquiry. I can assist you in preparing the necessary evidence and provide guidance to ensure that your strongest case is presented, thereby minimising the risk of a full Public Inquiry.