The call no one wants to get! – Called to a Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiry – Do I need a Solicitor?
11 May 2021
Receiving a ‘call to Public Inquiry’ letter is the dread of every operator – and with good reason given the very real risk that regulatory action will be taken against the Operator’s Licence and transport manager(s). A call to Public Inquiry (or Preliminary Hearing) should therefore be taken very seriously.
In 2019-2020, there were 1541 Public Inquiries (plus 318 Preliminary Hearings and 140 Senior Team Leader interviews) involving haulage and passenger vehicle operators and their transport managers across England, Scotland and Wales.
How do I achieve the best Public Inquiry outcome?
The key to achieving a successful outcome at Public Inquiry is a combination of preparation for the hearing and presentation of your case at the hearing itself. Firstly, the well-known expression “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” applies – it is vital that you respond to the issues promptly and that your HOUSE is in order by the date of the hearing. Secondly, the presentation of your case to the Traffic Commissioner on the day of the Public Inquiry itself is key – case strategy and advocacy skills are paramount!
Leading representation from Backhouse Jones
With a niche specialism in commercial road transport, Backhouse Jones have a thousand first-hand experiences dealing with operators and transport managers who – for any of a number of reasons – find themselves facing the Traffic Commissioner. We are adept at handling Public Inquiries and are recognised by the independent Chambers Guide as “a market-leading practice with specialist expertise across the full spectrum of road regulatory matters” and “the premier firm dealing with road transport regulatory work with far and away the biggest market share of any firm in this field”.
Backhouse Jones’ eight-strong team of leading regulatory road transport Solicitors is the largest of its kind and handles more Public Inquiries each year than any other firm. We are intimately familiar with the Public Inquiry process and the expectations of the Traffic Commissioners and use our unrivalled expertise to hand-hold you through every step of your Public Inquiry journey.
Do I need a Solicitor?
The short answer is ‘Yes’! Maybe we would say that though. The Public Inquiry is your one chance to demonstrate to the Traffic Commissioner that you have resolved the issues that led to the hearing and that they can trust you to operate compliantly. However, the Public Inquiry process can be a high pressure, stressful and emotionally draining experience for operators and transport managers and, in the face of potential career and business-changing consequences, many often find themselves overwhelmed, lost for words and feeling BACKed into a corner.
At Backhouse Jones, we seek to manage this situation for you, using our unrivalled expertise, our wealth of Public Inquiry experience and our objectivity to prepare you for the hearing and present your case to the Traffic Commissioner with clarity, precision and flexibility, pushing BACK where required to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
You wouldn’t go to the World Cup final without your best striker! Don’t attend the Public Inquiry alone – arm yourself with the best representation available by choosing Backhouse Jones’ team of expert road transport solicitors by calling 01254 828 300, emailing regulatory@backhouses.co.uk or click here for more information.
